SUD Counselor - COAT

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

10d

About The Position

The COAT Substance Use Disorder Counselor is a member of a multidisciplinary team providing outreach, engagement, and intensive case management to adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who are diverted from criminal prosecution. The program uses a modified Assertive Community Treatment approach, with caseloads of 1:20. The counselor provides specialized services to clients impacted by alcohol or other substance use across Seattle and nearby King County, including on streets, in shelters, jails, hospitals, supportive housing sites, and other service centers. The role requires frequent coordination with DESC programs and outside agencies. DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on people experiencing long-term homelessness and complex behavioral health and medical conditions. COAT provides holistic behavioral health treatment to vulnerable individuals navigating the legal system through an integrated team that includes mental health, substance use, psychiatric, nursing, occupational therapy, case management, and peer support roles. The counselor supports clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions. This may include attending care conferences, outreach and support in clients’ residential units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers to maintaining healthy living conditions. The position is full-time, scheduled for the day shift from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Saturdays and Sundays off, and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Requirements

Current Washington State Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) license in good standing.
Interest or experience working with clients who are difficult to engage or retain in traditional mental health or substance use disorder programs.
Interest or experience working with adults who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness, have mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders, and are involved in the criminal legal system.
Strong understanding of recovery and resilience, client partnerships and choice, and balancing protection from harm with personal dignity.
Strong knowledge of relevant community resources and methods for accessing them.
Strong communication and writing skills.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Commitment to cooperation and continuity across programs and to consideration and respect for clients.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency-related business.
Current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record.
Ability to sit for long periods, communicate by talking and hearing, lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or higher in a relevant social science.
Bicultural or bilingual background or experience.
Ability to respond positively and empathetically to all persons, value meaningful and deep client engagement, demonstrate potential to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of an effective SUD Counselor, and respond non-judgmentally to sensitive issues.
Ability to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

Responsibilities

Perform alcohol and drug screenings and assessments with selected clients.
Provide individual and group substance use disorder treatment in office and community settings using a stage-based, non-confrontational treatment model that accounts for interactions between mental illness and substance use and supports participant-determined goals.
Develop support and treatment plans with clients and facilitate links to collaborative resources when appropriate.
Plan, organize, and facilitate treatment and support groups as appropriate.
Serve as the COAT team’s subject matter expert on substance use disorders.
Consult with team members about substance use disorder issues, treatment, and education, including harm reduction best practices.
Provide staff training on substance use issues as appropriate.
Advocate for clients’ access to community resources and services, protect client rights, and collaborate with community providers to support continuity of care.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with DESC staff and other service and resource organizations.
Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program and SUD team meetings, in-service trainings, clinical reviews, and case conferences.
Maintain current and complete clinical records, follow clinical accountability policies and procedures, and participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
Comply with data gathering and submission requirements and applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
Participate in verbal de-escalation during emergencies and assist staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
Support clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, including attending care conferences, conducting outreach in residential units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers.
Drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency-related business.
Perform other duties as assigned.