Substance Abuse Counselor

Community Medical Services•Phoenix, AZ

24d

About The Position

Community Medical Services is hiring a Substance Abuse Counselor to assist patients recovering from opioid and other substance use disorders. The role is based in an outpatient setting and involves individual and group counseling, treatment planning, and helping patients develop coping strategies. The position works with multicultural and low socioeconomic populations and follows a consistent Monday–Friday schedule from 11 AM to 7 PM. The counselor maintains a compliant caseload, completes assessments and individualized treatment plans, evaluates treatment effectiveness, coordinates services with community providers, and maintains comprehensive client records. The role also involves engaging family and natural supports when preferred by the client, coordinating communication with other systems, and assisting with primary care screening and referrals.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years old.
High school diploma or GED plus two years of qualifying education, behavioral health experience, or a combination of both; or an associate degree plus two years of full-time behavioral health work experience; or a bachelor’s degree plus one year of full-time behavioral health work experience.
A master’s or bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health-related field.
Knowledge of behavioral management, de-escalation methods, crisis intervention, and techniques for defusing situations to prevent violent behavior harmful to oneself or others, with the ability to apply these techniques to clients at various levels of crisis.
Academic and working knowledge of DSM-5, community resources, clinical methods and procedures, and their application.

Responsibilities

Maintain and manage a caseload in compliance with regulatory standards and ratios.
Conduct individual counseling sessions, facilitate group counseling, and deliver didactic educational presentations.
Complete comprehensive behavioral health assessments and individualized treatment plans in compliance with regulatory requirements and client needs.
Assess treatment effectiveness on an ongoing basis, including consideration of clients’ natural supports, and modify service plans as appropriate.
Coordinate care with recovery and community-based service providers, including referrals, service documentation, case management, and chart compliance.
Include family and natural supports in client treatment according to the client’s preference.
Maintain and apply knowledge of developments in substance use treatment as required by state licensure.
Maintain professional relationships with other substance use professionals, programs, and associations.
Maintain thorough and comprehensive client records.
Coordinate and communicate with other systems when clinical knowledge of the case is important.
Assist with screening and coordinating primary care services for clients.