SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR (REGISTERED) - PIR/PIRM

Neighborhood House Association•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Substance Use Counselor (Registered) provides services to incarcerated individuals age 18+ with co-occurring substance use and/or psychiatric disorders as they prepare to exit detention facilities, including providing individual counseling, group counseling, case management, researching and organizing the necessary community resources in order to support clients’ transition to the community, and following through to ensure service efficacy; and performs related work as required.

Requirements

Knowledge of case management principles, recovery-oriented care, and trauma-informed engagement strategies
Experience conducting substance use and mental health assessments, intakes, service plans, and progress reviews
Ability to facilitate individual and group counseling, psycho-educational and reentry-focused groups, and provide crisis intervention
Skill in identifying client needs and securing appropriate linkages to housing, employment, vocational training, behavioral health, and community-based supports
Experience assisting clients with job readiness, applications, and mock interviews.
Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and maintain strong partnerships with law enforcement, community agencies, and reentry stakeholders
Skilled in client advocacy and follow-through to ensure continuity of care
Knowledge of documentation standards, chart maintenance, data tracking, and accurate record keeping for accountability logs, client progress, and service delivery.
Experience providing outreach, presentations, and community engagement
Ability to maintain program safety standards and support a culturally responsive service environment for diverse populations, including homelessness, co-occurring disorders, SMI, and justice-involved adults
Capable of exercising sound judgment within program policy guidelines
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to operate computer software for documentation, spreadsheets, and database reporting; maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries; bilingual communication in English/Spanish is highly valued.
Assessment and treatment of clients with substance use and co-occurring disorders, including ASAM criteria, DSM-V diagnostic categories, motivational interviewing, CBT, and recovery-based care coordination best practices.
Cultural and socio-economic factors impacting LatinX, African American, and Transition Age Youth populations, as well as justice-involved adults.
County’s System of Care, legal/ethical issues, criminogenic risks and needs, and human behavior theory.
Local community, reentry, and mental health resources supporting incarcerated or recently released individuals.
Group dynamics and facilitation strategies.
Conduct clinical assessments and develop appropriate case management and treatment plans.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary partners, including corrections, probation/parole, courts, and community agencies.
Maintain accurate documentation, communicate effectively, and apply professional judgment with tact and cultural sensitivity.
Prioritize tasks, organize workload, interpret regulations, and operate standard office and database software.
Analyze complex service needs, identify solutions, and implement action plans in both office and field-based settings.
Must possess either registration through the following programs to qualify: Substance Use Counseling from California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP), California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) or be enrolled in an accredited college’s SUD Counselor Program, on track to become Certified.
Must possess High School Diploma/GED at minimum.
A valid California driver's license with current, valid California automobile insurance is required
CPR/First Aid Certified
TB test required upon hire and must be maintained every four (4) years.
Must possess Sheriff’s background clearance no later than 4 weeks after employment.

Nice To Haves

A minimum of two years of experience in evidence-based practices and issues pertaining to psychosocial treatments for SUD, Motivational Interviewing, and Relapse Prevention preferred.
Peer Certified preferred.
Bilingual preferred.
Bilingual candidates will be required to pass a bilingual competency test prior to their hire date.

Responsibilities

Provides case management, assessments, and individual/group counseling, including recovery-oriented and psycho-educational groups.
Conducts crisis intervention, identifies client needs, and secures linkages to mental health, housing, employment, and other support services.
Assists with job readiness, including applications, linkages, and mock interviews.
Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team and consult with management as needed to support client progress.
Completes intakes, assessments, service plans, and required documentation; maintains client charts, logs, and progress notes.
Transports clients to linkages and provides outreach, presentations, and community engagement as needed.
Ensures program safety, maintains positive relationships with law enforcement and partner agencies, and monitors client progress.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

15 Holidays Days
401(K) Retirement 6% Match
Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500
2 Personal Days
Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Live Well Program
4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.