Substance Abuse Counselor

 Job Summary

The Substance Abuse Counselor works as a team member with several social service professional and paraprofessional staff ensuring the delivery of quality care in accordance to the rules and regulations established for contracted agencies as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center.

*This position requires Current and active CADAC or CAADE certification

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Substance Abuse Counselors key areas of responsibility include:

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Implement case management service plan goals emphasizing coordinated strategies for addressing substance abuse issues relapse prevention and any other risk factors that could impede clients functioning.
• Provide ongoing assessment of client progress in attaining goals.
• Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients.
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork in order to enroll them in permanent housing programs.

 Essential Duties:

• Provide ongoing case management services that will decrease social isolation and prevent relapse risks; 
• provide linkage and brokerage to any mental health substance abuse and meaningful community 
• activities. 
• Provide crisis management case management and other related substance abuse/mental health 
• services to clients on the streets in service venues in housing placements or other locations as 
• appropriate.
• Respond to urgent requests for assistance from clients as needed.
• Perform daily follow-ups and wellness checks on existing clients and on all new referrals. 
• Participate in all meetings with collaborative agencies and other community meetings as directed.
• Conducts 1:1 consistent with harm reduction principles to facilitate patient awareness understand and motivation to change related to addiction and recovery issues as necessary.
• Cultivate relationships with substance abuse treatment providers in the service area.

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here nor is it expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.

Qualifications :

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

•  Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients community and other staff. Must have excellent organizational skills. 
• Have an understanding in how to work with low income and homeless individuals. Knowledge of how to work effectively in a harm reduction environment. 
• Demonstrate cooperative and professional behavior at all times and maintain a professional appearance. 
• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients community and other staff. Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast paced environment. 
• Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction Motivational Interviewing Critical Time Intervention and Housing First.
• Effective crisis management skills.

Experience:

• One or more years providing chemical dependency counseling (supervised internship applies).
• Experience working with individuals receiving services for mental health homelessness and/or 
• substance use. 
• Experience and general knowledge of working with individuals who may be mentally ill HIV positive 
• and/or have chemical dependency issues is highly desired. 
• Experience providing street-based services to highly vulnerable populations. 
• Street based outreach preferred.

Education:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in social work human services or a related field; a combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Direct Reports:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook).
• Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.
• Ability to accurately enter data in to L.A. County and St. Joseph Center databases.

Certificates Licenses and Registrations:

• Current and active CADAC or CAADE certification.

Travel Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation. 

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to stand sit walk stoop talk hear reach above and below shoulders; use hand and finger dexterity keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and or carry up to 20 lbs.

Additional Information :

Benefits: Excellent benefits package available.

Status: Full time/Exempt

Employment with St. Joseph Center is contingent on completion of satisfactory background check.

For consideration please submit cover letter and resume. St. Joseph Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race color religion sex national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. All applicants for employment are invited to voluntarily self-identify their gender race ethnicity and veteran status by completing the EEO Information. Providing your EEO Information is voluntary and refusal to self-identify will not subject applicants to any adverse treatment. Similarly applicants who do self-identify will not be subject to any adverse treatment based on the information they provide.

St. Joseph center invites you to review the current EEO is The Law poster as part of the application process. A link to the current poster is located here.

  Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time