Substance Abuse Counselor

Community Medical Services•Mesa, AZ

18d

About The Position

Community Medical Services (CMS) is hiring a Substance Abuse Counselor to assist patients recovering from opioid and other illicit substance addictions. The role supports patients through individual and group counseling, treatment planning, and coping strategies in an outpatient setting. The position works with multicultural and low socioeconomic populations and follows a consistent Monday–Friday schedule from 4:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The counselor maintains a compliant caseload, provides clinical and educational services, coordinates care with community and recovery providers, and maintains complete client records. The counselor also collaborates with family and natural supports according to client preference, assists with primary care service coordination, and serves as a clinical point of contact with other systems. Community Medical Services is a CARF-accredited addiction treatment program offering outpatient medication-assisted treatment and individual and group counseling. Headquartered in Arizona, CMS operates more than 70 clinics in 14 states. The organization is an equal employment opportunity employer and may provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age.
Knowledge of behavioral management, de-escalation methods, crisis intervention, and techniques to defuse situations and prevent violent behavior harmful to clients or others; ability to apply these techniques to clients experiencing varying levels of crisis.
Academic and working knowledge of DSM-5, community resources, clinical methods, and procedures, and the ability to apply them.
One of the following education and experience combinations: high school diploma, GED, or associate degree plus 2 years of behavioral health experience; a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health-related field plus 1 year of behavioral health experience; or a master’s degree in a behavioral health-related field with no prior behavioral health experience required.

Responsibilities

Maintain and manage a caseload in compliance with regulatory standards and ratios.
Conduct individual sessions, facilitate group counseling, and deliver didactic educational presentations.
Complete comprehensive behavioral health assessments and individualized treatment plans that meet regulatory requirements and clients’ needs.
Assess treatment effectiveness on an ongoing basis, including assessment of clients and their natural supports, and modify service plans as needed.
Coordinate care with recovery and community-based service providers; conduct case management, send referrals, complete documentation needed to secure services, and maintain chart compliance.
Include family and natural supports in client treatment according to client preference.
Maintain and apply knowledge of developments in substance use treatment as required by state licensure.
Maintain collegial 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 a case is crucial.
Assist with screening for and coordinating clients’ primary care services.