SUD Counselor (SUDP/SUDPT) - Day Shift

DESC•Seattle, WA

About The Position

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness. As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness. The Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) trains under a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUD) who works cooperatively with agency staff & community resources to provide a range of services to clients with drug & alcohol problems. Many clients have a sustained and/or complicated substance abuse history in addition to their co-occurring mental disorder. Often people suffering from mental illness who lack access to psychiatric treatment, attempt to self-medicate with street drugs or alcohol to lessen the symptoms. The ability to provide highly integrated services to people with concurrent mental health and substance use concerns is rare among homeless service providers. At DESC, our network of clinical services allows counselors to work in coordination with mental health case managers in both the emergency shelter and in supportive housing projects so that services meet clients at their current level and offer the support that can lead to significant change.

Requirements

Licensed by the State of Washington as a Substance Use Disorder Professional or Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee in good standing.
For SUDPT: Attested to the WA State Department of Health that the applicant is currently enrolled in an educational program to meet the educational requirements of a SUDP. The requirement for full licensure is an associate degree.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Nice To Haves

Bi-cultural and/or bilingual background/experience.
Experience working with adults experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness.

Responsibilities

Perform alcohol and drug assessments, and intake evaluations on selected clients; with the client’s participation, develop support and treatment plans; facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
Plan, organize and facilitate treatment and support groups for clients, as appropriate.
Provide substance abuse consultation to Mental Health Program and Housing Program staff.
Provide staff training on substance abuse issues as appropriate.
Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing ongoing advocacy and integration of services to mentally ill, homeless and formerly homeless adults.
Advocate for client access to community resources and services, ensuring that client needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
Comply with data gathering/submission requirements of DESC and reimbursement agencies.
Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
Other duties as assigned.
Support your clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions. This can include but is not limited to attending care conferences related to living conditions, outreaching and supporting clients in their residential units with tools and skills to maintain their units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in cleaning out clients’ units, and documenting barriers to maintaining healthy living conditions.