Substance Use Counselor

Alpharus Health • Bainbridge, GA

42d • $21 - $27 • Onsite

About The Position

Alpharus Health, a national nonprofit behavioral health provider, is hiring a Substance Use Counselor to provide substance use disorder treatment at Bainbridge PSATC, a correctional facility in Bainbridge, Georgia. The counselor conducts assessments, provides individual and group counseling and education, supports individualized treatment planning, and helps clients prepare for discharge and continuing care. The role also includes crisis-service coordination, treatment documentation and reporting, and office administrative duties.

The schedule is Monday through Thursday, with 10-hour day shifts. The position carries a caseload of up to 25 clients, subject to state and contract requirements. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a helping profession, obtain Georgia Department of Corrections clearance, and obtain an acceptable certification or licensure within 30 months of beginning counseling services if not already credentialed.

Compensation is $20.50–$21.50 per hour for non-credentialed counselors and $25.00–$27.00 per hour for credentialed counselors. Certified or licensed counselors are eligible for a $3,000 sign-on bonus. Starting rates depend on experience, qualifications, and relevant skills. Annual performance reviews are conducted, and merit-increase eligibility depends on employee and organizational financial performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a helping profession from an accredited college or university.
• Obtain certification identified by the state within 30 months of the first date counseling services are provided. Acceptable certifications include Certified Addiction Counselor from GACA or NAADAC, Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor from ICRC, and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).
• Acceptable licensures include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS).
• Ability to obtain Georgia Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.
• Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time to monitor and interact with clients.
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data.
• Ability to record, proofread, and check documents and files for accuracy.
• Ability to respond to telephones and hear and detect alarms and unusual noises.

Nice To Haves

• Previous counseling experience.
• Experience in substance use disorder or mental health treatment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct client interviews and assessments to review substance use disorder and treatment history.
• Evaluate client responses to treatment and recommend treatment-plan modifications; assist with caseloads and individualized treatment plans, including appropriate goals, interventions, and support.
• Assist with and provide didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education, to support peer support.
• Provide individual counseling, educational programs, and lectures addressing relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, and related needs.
• Support clients in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Carry a caseload of up to 25 clients, in accordance with state and contract requirements.
• Collaborate with clients on discharge summaries, continuing-care plans, and relapse-prevention plans for supervisor approval, integrating aftercare with referral resources.
• Coordinate required services to address emergency problems in crisis situations and support continued recovery.
• Collect and maintain treatment records and reports for organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Perform office administrative duties, including answering telephones, relaying messages, responding to inquiries about program services and policies, filing, photocopying, faxing, planning special events, and assembling intake packets.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums.
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer match.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life and AD&D insurance paid for by Alpharus.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• 18 paid time-off days per year, with accrual rates increasing with years of service.
• 9 paid company holidays.
• Training and development programs.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year.
• Access to online eLearning courses that provide CEUs and job-related training.
• Formal and informal clinical supervision.
• $3,000 sign-on bonus for certified or licensed counselors.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time