SUD Counselor - DMH Van Nuys

Hope The Mission•Los Angeles, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for the upcoming DMH Van Nuys Location: 6909 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405 Position Summary The mission of Hope the Mission (HTM) is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. Our mission is to meet our participants’ needs through an individualized and non-judgmental approach that will ultimately lead to long term housing stability. The Substance Use Counselor will provide counseling and support to clients suffering from drug or alcohol dependency, psychoeducate clients on evidenced based practices to help in their recovery process, assist with case management needs, and work on linking clients to Medication Assisted Treatment, detox, and residential services as needed. Under the supervision of the clinical supervisor, the Substance Use Counselor will assist in conducting seeking safety, harm reduction, trauma-informed, low-barrier, culturally responsive, and person-centered care to improve mental health and behavioral health outcomes of participants residing at Hope the Mission’s interim housing shelters. This position will be a part of a multi-disciplinary team of staff including but not limited to clinical supervisors, clinicians, mental health care coordinators, substance use counselors, and peer support specialists and provide support to staff in other departments through case consultation, training, and de-escalation.

Requirements

Must have a high school diploma or GED with an associate degree.
Must have completed an SUD program or be in the process of completing an SUD program.
Registered CA intern or CATC required.
1 year experience providing substance use counseling preferred
Must be able to accurately document all services provided to clients
Drug screen, Background, Motor Vehicle record (MVR), Live Scan, TB test required
A valid CA Driver’s License is required.
Willing and able to work well with no or low-income homeless individuals
Demonstrate courtesy, mutual respect and compassion in dealing with others
Initiate and present positive solutions to problems
Demonstrate effective working relations and works effectively as part of the team
Demonstrate a willingness to accommodate requirements or changing priorities in the workplace
Knowledge of current legal standards pertaining to professional practice, reporting requirements (i.e., suspected abuse; Tarasoff), professional boundaries and related issues.
Ability to develop excellent rapport with clients
Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Must have the ability to coordinate a continuum of treatment / services for clients
Excellent verbal, oral and presentation skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Problem solving and strategizing capabilities
Ability in decision-making and problem-solving

Nice To Haves

CAADE, CADTP, or CCAPP Certification preferred but not required.
Bilingual Spanish Preferred but not required
Experience working with culturally diverse, severely mentally ill clients and clients with co-occurring substance use diagnoses preferred
Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness highly preferred
Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct in-service training to staff/interns on substance use and related topics.

Responsibilities

Outreach and engagement with clients in a variety of different settings.
Conduct enrollment assessments, SUD screenings, individualized wellness, safety and care plans in collaboration with participants.
Facilitate substance use counseling, psychoeducation groups, case management and provide psychoeducation to clients.
Utilize a person-centered, seeking safety, crisis management, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, trauma-informed care, and housing first approach with clients.
Coordinate SUD services such as provide referrals/linkage to external substance use resources including MAT treatment, psychiatric services, detox, and residential services.
Ability to create and maintain boundaries with clients and understand the limitations of a professional working relationship only within the work setting.
Completes and maintains all documentation of services delivered.
Collaborates with members of the multidisciplinary treatment team to ensure effective delivery of a full spectrum of clinical and social services
Participates in all staff meetings with HTM when appropriate
Conduct risk assessments and support with requesting the Psychiatric Mobile Response Team and emergency personnel for 5150 holds as appropriate.
Strong group facilitation skills, ability to plan and execute onsite activities for clients.
Carry a full case load of individuals struggling with SUD, severe mental illness, and co-occurring disorders.
Must be comfortable working in a disciplinary team consisted of clinicians, SUD counselors, peers, supervisors, case managers, and other community partners.
Expected to participate in care coordination meetings, treatment team meetings, and trainings.
Collaborating and connecting with resources outside of the organization when necessary.
Expected to participate in individual and group supervision meetings.
Communicate effectively and respond to correspondences in a timely manner.
Identify potentially unsafe systems/processes/situations and takes initiative to report to supervisor.
Perform any other duties, projects and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.