SUD Outpatient and In Custody Counselor/Clinician

ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SERVICES•Santa Cruz, CA

6d•$28 - $31•Hybrid

About The Position

We currently have a benefited full-time (32 hours/week) opening for a SUD Counselor/Clinician with our SUD Outpatient program with sites across North and South County. The ALTO Counselor will have a shared responsibility (approximately 70%) for maintaining a caseload of individual clients and facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting. Caseload responsibilities include: individual intakes and ASAM assessments, individual SUD-focused counseling sessions, problem list development and reassessments, treatment planning, care coordination, and discharge/aftercare planning. The position is primarily a Drug Medi-Cal position and regularly uses an electronic health record to complete Medi-Cal and other funder billing, with productivity billing requirements. The ALTO Counselor will also have a shared responsibility (approximately 30%, or 10 hours) position with the local corrections department serving our in-custody population. The In Custody Counselor will be responsible for facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting in person at various jail sites, maintaining group charts, and engaging in background checks and clearance trainings. This is a unique position that is not often vacant and provides an opportunity to work with an experienced team of counselors, clinicians, peers, and medical providers who specialize in substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder treatment. This clinical track position supports an active pathway towards CADTP certification and BBS licensure (LCSW, LMFT or LPCC). Clinical supervision is provided by the agency to gain hours towards licensure. Encompass is committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the diversity and native languages of our community. Women, candidates of color, LGBTQIA identifying, and/or individuals with lived experience of behavioral health systems are highly encouraged to apply. Spanish-speaking providers encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Registered or certified drug and alcohol counselor with one of the three state-approved accredited organizations (CADTP, CAADE, CCAPP) or active registration as an Associate with BBS. Agency can support registration pursuit and initial fees.
Ongoing requirements for education and certification must be funded by staff.
Applicant must have active driver’s license and the ability to drive to and from the offices in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
Applicant must submit appropriate background check clearance and be able to pass Santa Cruz County jail clearance to provide in-custody services.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English and Spanish with ability to conduct clinical treatment in Spanish, including written treatment planning.
Experience with evidenced based practice for Substance Use Disorder treatment services, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
One year experience providing counseling treatment services (group and individual) – master’s level internship hours may count towards experience.
Experience with criminal justice population preferred.
Experience with telehealth platforms and practices is preferred.
Strong computer literacy, experience with AVATAR preferred.
Strong writing skills and communication skills.

Responsibilities

All Staff Team Collaboration: Work alongside licensed medical providers, SUD counselors, and behavioral health professionals within and outside the outpatient program to complement traditional treatment approaches. Attend and contribute to team planning meetings, uplifting the clients’ voice in decision-making. Participate in team trainings, supervision, and reflective practice. Endorse structural wellbeing of the program by committing to safety, workflows, and collaborative team decision-making.
Professionalism and Documentation: Maintain accurate and timely documentation in various systems as required and achieve productivity requirements. Demonstrate organization, clear task completion, and strong communication across cultures and identities with supervisor support on strategies for adherence. Model positive relationships, respectful boundaries, and maintain a safe and supportive environment. Use trauma-informed methodology to perform toxicology screenings and relay/collect data.
ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Manage and maintain individual caseload of clients; number of clients determined by billing productivity and attendance. Provide individual sessions and group counseling for clients with substance use disorder. Meet weekly billable units of service (hourly) requirements for Medi-Cal billing. Conduct assessments using the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and Feedback Informed Treatment models. Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans that are dictated by the ASAM assessment. Maintain up to date on chart documentation. Provide case management and coordination to link and support clients with various resources. Develop and provide discharge planning sessions with clients as treatment comes to closure. Other duties as assigned.
ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Attend corrections training as assigned to maintain access to jail sites. Facilitate approximately 2 in person groups to our in-custody population. Manage and maintain charting and data reporting requirements. Develop and maintain individualized intake consents, treatment plans, and success surveys. Maintain up to date on chart documentation. Coordinate regularly with Jail program staff, Lead Clinician, and Program Manager. Other duties as assigned.