Job Description
Title: Substance Use Counselor
Reports To: Project Director
Hours per week: 40
Qualifications
- Must have a Valid California substance abuse certification/credential
- In order to provide additional support and meaningful connection to clients, the Substance Use Counselor position will have lived experience of incarceration and successful reentry. Knowledge of managing a psychiatric disorder, and 12-step programs and all aspects of recovery from substance abuse is helpful
Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of available community services targeted toward sobriety and recovery.
- Must have valid California Driver’s license and the availability of a car with adequate insurance.
- Work within a system of fully electronic record keeping and medical records assuring a comprehensive health history and up to date health and medication information is recorded in the consumer’s electronic health record
- Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conducts substance use screenings and assessments including collecting information on proscribed substance use measures.
- Counsels consumers using techniques of motivational interviewing and harm reduction.
- Facilitates linkages to existing recovery programs in the community including detox and residential treatment programs.
- Assists with outreach and engagement activities to identify and engage new consumers for the program.
- Provide all appropriate recovery and sobriety support services
- Work as a team with member’s primary case coordinator, psychiatrist and other interagency staff to provide consistent services.
- Conduct sobriety or recovery oriented groups as scheduled weekly.
- Assist members with identifying AA/CA/NA support groups near their home that are supportive of recovering mentally ill persons.
- Maintain contact with family members and significant other support persons whenever appropriate.
- Ensure members are involved in establishing goals in the area of sobriety/ recovery.
- Provide services for clients as a part of the CCBHCTeam using evidenced based practices of SBIRT, CORS, Seeking Safety, Housing First and Motivational Interviewing
- Provide services with a strong behavioral health recovery orientation, cultural sensitivity, and awareness of the unique needs of the population of focus; homeless persons with cooccurring disorder transitioning from jail to the community.
- May be required to travel locally and out of state to participate in conferences, workshops and training. Attend ongoing training as appropriate
- To perform other duties/ responsibilities as assigned.