Substance Use Disorder Counselor

Family Health Centers of San Diego • San Diego, CA

4d

About The Position

The Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC) - Certified provides substance abuse screening and assessments, brief interventions, and individual, group, and family counseling for patients experiencing substance abuse or dependency disorders. The counselor supports patients’ treatment and recovery, helps develop individualized care plans, assesses needs for medical enrollment, self-help programs, outpatient services, or residential facilities, and coordinates referrals.

The position provides education and referral information to patients, families, and staff; offers leadership and training to staff on chemical dependency issues; and serves as a subject matter expert on a cross-functional treatment team. The counselor works with multidisciplinary colleagues to support continuity of care, maintains community resource information and contacts, and may consult with community agencies. Depending on assignment, patients may include people living with serious mental illness, HIV, or homelessness. Occasional travel between sites and other locations is required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Current American Heart Association healthcare provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training.
• Certification from a California State Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Services certifying agency.
• Within 30 days of employment, obtain the credential required for the patient population served: Licensed Practitioner of Healing Arts (LPHA), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT).
• At least 1 year of experience providing counseling.
• Valid California driver’s license, an automobile, proof of minimum car insurance required under California law, and an acceptable driving record.

Nice To Haves

• 2 years of experience providing counseling to assigned patient demographics, such as patients diagnosed with serious mental illness or HIV.

Responsibilities

• Complete required documentation accurately, thoroughly, and on time in accordance with department standards and patients’ insurance requirements.
• Develop and maintain information about community resources and contacts related to the assigned patient population.
• Act as a liaison with community agencies and provide consultations as needed.
• Participate in designing and implementing mental health and substance abuse service delivery with the multidisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide direct substance abuse counseling, including crisis intervention and individual, group, and family counseling for assigned patient populations.
• Support patients in maintaining treatment and recovery.
• Provide substance abuse education and referral information to patients, families, and staff.
• Conduct substance abuse screening and assessments.
• Participate in developing patients’ individualized care plans.
• Assess patients’ need for medical enrollment, self-help programs, outpatient services, or residential facilities, and make referrals when necessary.
• Provide leadership and training to staff concerning chemical dependency issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time