Substance Abuse Counselor - CADC

Advocate Health • Park Ridge, IL

2d • $25 - $38

About The Position

The Substance Abuse Counselor is responsible for addiction-patient and family case management, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, education, and discharge planning. The role conducts biopsychosocial assessments and prepares diagnostic summaries that evaluate clinical needs, conditions, strengths, and limitations. It develops and revises individualized treatment plans with input from patients, families, and the care team, and introduces patients and families to 12-step recovery. The counselor also helps patients make positive changes in attitudes, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and decision-making.

The position conducts addiction-focused group counseling and daily group therapy, using group dynamics and peer-centered processes to address group needs and individual treatment goals. It provides clinical supervision to students and assigned counselors, teaches staff and students about the disease concept and addiction-treatment philosophy, and develops and delivers addiction and recovery education.

The role also participates in quality-improvement and program-development activities, serves on assigned committees and projects, and carries out program improvements. Hours may vary based on patient acuity and census, program needs, and staff composition. The work may involve exposure to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases, patient handling and lifting, and transporting objects. Other related duties may be required.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Behavioral Health or equivalent.
• Two years of experience in the field.
• IAODAPCA - CADC.
• Experience in counseling and supervision skills, with adaptation to the current role required.
• Knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders.
• Working knowledge of and support for 12-step recovery.
• Ability to use a dictation service and produce legible handwriting.
• Ability to recognize the needs and behaviors of the age groups of patients treated.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints.
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to patient-focused care.
• Ability to perform patient lifting and transfer activities, potentially up to 50 pounds; for direct patient care, able to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance, with patient-handling equipment and another associate expected for lifts over 35 pounds or when the patient cannot assist, when available.
• Ability to transport objects from one location to another.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage cases for addiction patients and families.
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments of patients.
• Prepare comprehensive diagnostic summaries evaluating clinical needs and conditions and identifying strengths and limitations.
• Develop individualized treatment plans based on identified clinical needs, coordinating team input and patient and family goals; include family when appropriate.
• Revise treatment plans based on patient progress or new information.
• Introduce patients and families to 12-step recovery.
• Prepare achievable discharge plans in collaboration with patients, the care team, and families when appropriate.
• Facilitate positive changes in patients’ attitudes, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and decision-making alternatives.
• Conduct addiction-focused group counseling using a peer-centered process to address group needs and individual treatment goals.
• Conduct daily group therapy using group-dynamics skills and curative techniques, including defense mechanisms, transference, opening and closing, and group goal setting.
• Maintain focus on addictions while identifying and responding to related issues.
• Use students and interns as co-facilitators when appropriate.
• Clinically supervise students and the case management of assigned counselors, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostic summaries, treatment planning, progress reporting, and discharge planning.
• Provide timely feedback to the Supervisor or Substance Use Service about supervisees’ clinical strengths and areas needing improvement for evaluation purposes.
• Teach new staff and students about the disease concept and the philosophy of addiction treatment and recovery.
• Develop and deliver clear, concise, relevant addiction and recovery information in a lecture/discussion format.
• Present information with dignity and respect, and motivate patients to learn about addiction and recovery.
• Participate in the Quality Improvement Performance Plan and other program-development activities.
• Serve on assigned committees and projects and carry out assigned program improvements.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, premium pay for eligible shifts or on-call work, incentive pay for select positions, and the opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
• Career-development and well-being programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree