Substance Use Counselor I

University of Rochester•Street, MD

12d•$23 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

As a member of the CAT team, the Substance Use Counselor I serves as the first point of contact for individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment services. This role is responsible for conducting initial screening phone calls, gathering demographic and clinical information, assessing treatment needs, determining MOUD or MAUD needs, providing information about available services, and scheduling intake appointments. This position serves as a liaison between patients/referring providers and clinical services to ensure connection to appropriate services. This position manages and provides referrals for adults, young adults and adolescent clinical services. The Access Team Member demonstrates compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to helping individuals access appropriate care in a timely manner.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to human services and 1 year of related experience required
NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) or (CASAC-T) required
If CASAC-T upon hire, successful completion of examination to remove the (T (training)) designation must be completed within 12 months of hire required
Ability to work as a directly supervised cotherapist in group therapy for alcohol/drug dependent persons and has a working knowledge of the concepts underlying group therapy including role of feelings, defenses required
Knowledge of legal rights and societal attitudes toward the alcoholic/addicted person in and out of treatment required

Nice To Haves

1-2 years experience in working with behavioral health population in a direct care capacity preferred
Master's degree in a discipline related to human services preferred
Equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience in drug/alcohol dependence treatment preferred
Work as a member of a team and able to work independently preferred
Understanding of psychosocial stressors, community resources and safety issues; basic crisis intervention skills; problem solving skills; well-developed listening skills; ability to communicate clearly; ability to advocate, research and collaborate on behalf of patients preferred
Knowledge of how to use Microsoft Word products and electronic medical record preferred

Responsibilities

Completes screening for eligibility and facilitates referral for patients; ensures that referral is directed to the appropriate clinical services.
Communicates directly with referring offices regarding outcomes or recommendations.
Presents complex cases to clinical team for triage/recommendations.
Has detailed knowledge of UR Behavioral Health clinics and workflows.
Has knowledge of community resources for services not offered at UR.
Has ability to complete OASAS LOCADTR.
Functions as the subject matter expert on SUD, providing SUD consultation and determining appropriate level of care.
Is knowledgeable on medications for OUD and AUD and utilizes knowledge of substance use treatment and community resources to facilitate referrals.
Will identify urgent, priority access or high-risk situations and follow appropriate procedures for crisis intervention and referral.
Develops and maintains workflows and resource lists within the electronic medical record and provides cross training/ onboarding to CAT staff in assessing substance use.
Verify patient’s access to their own safety plan and Consults with Sr. Clinical Coordinator if safety concerns arise.
Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) system.
Coordinate communication between clients, clinicians, care managers, referral sources, and other departments.
Follow confidentiality standards and HIPAA regulations.
Assist with appointment reminders, follow-up calls, and rescheduling when necessary.
Documents all interactions, interventions, referrals in the patient’s chart in compliance with Division, Department and Hospital policy.
Ensures Psychiatry Department, and Hospital policies and procedures are implemented with regard to professional practice, discharge planning, and patient care.
Complies with Division and Departmental quality assurance and staff development activities.
Timely completion of time reporting and other Hospital or Division forms; Hospital and Division mandatory in-service training programs and UHS reviews.
Subscribes to the Departmental goal of creating a culturally competent environment by treating patient, families, trainees, and co-workers in a sensitive manner with appropriate attention to cultural differences.
Participates in available cultural competence events and training appropriate to job duties.
Provides back up services, within scope of practice, as requested in the absence of co-workers.
Other duties as assigned