SUD Counselor - COAT

DESC•Seattle, WA

11d•$39 - $43

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 health and co-occurring substance use disorders who are diverted from criminal prosecution. The goal is to prevent reincarceration. 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 and coordinates frequently with DESC programs and outside agencies. Services are delivered across Seattle and nearby King County, including on the streets, in shelters, jails, hospitals, supportive housing sites, and other service centers. The counselor supports clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, which may involve care conferences, outreach and support in residential units, coordination with housing staff, assisting with unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers. DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider serving people experiencing long-term homelessness and complex behavioral health and medical conditions. COAT provides integrated, wraparound behavioral health treatment and support for vulnerable individuals navigating the legal system.

Requirements

Licensed by the State of Washington as a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) in good standing.
Interest or experience working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health or substance use disorder programs.
Interest or experience working with adults experiencing or having experienced homelessness, mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders, and involvement in the criminal legal system.
Strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships and client choice, and the balance between protection from harm and 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 consideration and respect for clients.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency-related business.
Current Washington State driver's license and an insurable driving record.
Ability to accept feedback and work collaboratively in a potentially stressful environment.
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.
Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, and the 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, develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of an effective SUD Counselor, and respond non-judgmentally to sensitive issues.

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 model that considers the interaction of mental illness and substance use and supports participant-determined goals.
Develop support and treatment plans with client participation and facilitate connections to collaborative resources when appropriate.
Plan, organize, and facilitate treatment and support groups as appropriate.
Serve as the COAT team's substance use disorder subject matter expert and consult with team members on substance use issues, treatment, education, and harm-reduction best practices.
Provide staff training on substance use issues as appropriate.
Advocate for client access to community resources and services, help ensure client needs are met and rights maintained, 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 other staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
Support clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, including attending care conferences, providing residential-unit outreach and support, coordinating with housing staff, participating in unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers.
Perform other duties as assigned.