Substance Use Counselor

COMMUNITY RENEWAL TEAM INC•Hartford, CT

49d•$40,656 - $47,568•Onsite

About The Position

The Substance Use counselor will support the Agency’s needs by providing a full range of group and Individual services to adults, providing effective evidence-based individual and group counseling to individuals who have substance use diagnosis. This role involves supporting clients in their recovery journey, developing crisis plans, linking them with supports, and coordinating care. The counselor will also maintain documentation, participate in meetings, and collaborate with professional staff. Research and development of new treatment methods, adherence to company policies, and modification of treatment strategies are also key aspects of this position. The role includes conducting screenings, assessments, and implementing integrated care plans, as well as assessing patients' substance use dependency status.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience
Minimum 4 years’ experience of substance use
Active Certification in good standing in: Certified Addiction Counseling (CAC) or Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) is required.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Demonstrate skills in: Substance use counseling, treating adults age 18 and over.
Strong group facilitating skills
Knowledge of: Substance use, Harm Reduction Model.
Electronic health record documentation requirements, Treatment plans, discharge planning.
Understanding and ability to learn Co-occurring Treatment.
Knowledge of treatment modalities CBT, MI, and DBT.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, active listening, and progress monitoring.
Perceptive emotional judgement and decision-making.
Strong social awareness and compassion for challenging, sensitive interactions.
Physical and TB Required Yes, prior to appointment.
Active Driver License in good standing required upon hire and throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual: preferred - Language Spanish Fluent – Speak & Written Yes
Agency Vehicle Yes
Employee’s Own Vehicle Yes

Responsibilities

Use Motivational Interventions to assist clients in meeting their goals and moving along their paths to recovery, utilizing stage wise interventions.
Provides psycho-educational rehabilitation in individual and group settings, for recovery from substance use and psychiatric disorders, utilizing curriculum that is trauma informed and gender responsive.
Develop crisis plans for clients and work with other staff to respond to crisis situations as needed.
Support individual with linking and engaging with natural (family, friends) or community supports.
Provide intensive skill building interventions and support for self-management, self-advocacy, health and well-being, relapse prevention, and using community resources.
Provides coordination of care to create an appropriate discharge plan.
Maintains documentation in compliance with agency and program standards.
Participates in staff meetings, supervision, trainings and other meetings as assigned.
Work with other professional staff to collaborate on treatment methods and plans for patients and to assess suitability for services or referrals to other treatment centers/services.
Conduct research as needed to develop new treatment methods and to stay up to date on changes within the field.
Comply with all company policies and procedures as outlined in the employee handbook, including how to handle patient grievances, proper intake procedures, staff meeting requirements and general code of conduct.
Create and modify individualized treatment strategies based on research, clinical knowledge, patient history and evaluations of progress.
Identifies, prevents and reports unsafe situations; uses appropriate procedures to assure safety environment.
Conducts brief, evidence-based and developmentally appropriate screening and conducts or arranges for more detailed assessments when indicated.
Creates and/or implements integrated care plans, ensures access to linked services; exchanges information among clients, family members, and providers.
Provides range of brief, focused prevention, treatment and recovery services for clients.
Assess patients’ Substance use dependency status continually by collecting and evaluating urine samples.
Perform all other duties as assigned.