Substance Abuse Counselor

Brien Center for Mental Health•North Adams, MA

10d

About The Position

Provides substance abuse counseling to people in the ACCS program, teaching recovery skills and promoting skills to reduce substance use. The counselor provides individual and group counseling, clinical oversight, assessments, treatment planning, staff training, and coordination with care teams and community resources. The position also supports harm-reduction approaches, wellness initiatives, and recovery planning that reflect each person’s strengths, preferences, cultural and linguistic needs, and support network.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) I, and/or LADC II in Massachusetts.
Prior experience providing individual and group substance abuse counseling.
Excellent knowledge of substance abuse treatment dynamics, interventions, and education.
Basic knowledge and skill in diagnostic and treatment planning.
Basic computer knowledge.
Basic knowledge of community resources.
Excellent oral and presentation skills.
Basic leadership skills.
Ability to work on an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to be flexible in meeting the needs of newly enrolled people, including weekends and evenings.
Ability to delegate effectively.
Ability to facilitate groups at other community locations.
Valid driver’s license and use of a personally insured vehicle for agency business.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Adhere to applicable state and federal regulations, organizational policies and procedures, the code of conduct, and regulatory requirements.
Provide short-term individual and group counseling services.
Attend local and out-of-area hospital or program meetings for newly referred people and hospital discharge meetings.
Communicate significant events, including hospital admissions and discharges, detox admissions, incarcerations, and assaults.
Provide clinical oversight to people on the Group Living Environment (GLE) and Integrated teams.
Develop person-centered treatment plans with attainable, strength-based goals that incorporate individual preferences, cultural and linguistic needs, and input from the person’s legally authorized representative (LAR) and support network.
Attend weekly team meetings and facilitate recovery meetings.
Facilitate case consultations at sites in collaboration with the Clinical Director.
Coordinate and facilitate treatment and team meetings, ensuring interpretive services and the inclusion and involvement of legally authorized representatives.
Meet with each person at least once weekly for a check-in.
Develop clinical plans that support the ACCS team and the person, incorporating natural and community supports.
Develop and incorporate wellness initiatives and plans.
Develop harm-reduction plans for people who use substances and participate in high-risk situations.
Collaborate directly with Care Coordinators and DMH case managers.
Deliver substance abuse, recovery, and stages-of-change training to staff across ACCS settings.
Complete substance abuse assessments and design treatment plans.
Complete necessary paperwork in a timely manner.
Coordinate treatment components and communicate with all Integrated Team members.
Provide substance-use education using a harm-reduction approach and connect people with community programs such as 12-step programs, wellness resources, counseling, and day structure.
Provide consultation to community agencies on substance abuse issues upon request.
Serve in the Clinician/Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) role when warranted.