Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Title: Counselor

Department: Clinical

Reports to: Clinical Director/Clinical Supervisor

Job Summary:

Maintains open communication lines with facility staff, attending clinicians and physicians, patients and families. Liaisons with community agencies, and vendors. Primary Therapist is to provide individual and some group therapy sessions for agency clients. This role will help guide and direct clients during sessions. Group notes support clinical necessity and progress toward treatment plan goals.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Knowledge of addictions and mental health complications.
• Knowledge of community health resources that support life improvement in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health, economic, security, employment, positive social and family interdependence and positive cultural identity.
• Knowledge of referral procedures and admittance criteria for health care and community providers.
• Ability to network and collaborate with healthcare and other social and cultural agencies that can provide services to the patients and families.
• Knowledge and competency in problem solving, stress management, ethics and team building.
• Knowledge of alcohol and other drugs that includes:
• Alcohol and addictive drugs and their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual impact on the individual.
• Alcohol and addictive drugs and their impact on the family.
• Ability to determine if a medical emergency exists and to take appropriate action, when necessary.
• Knowledge of emergency procedures used in case of alcohol and/or drug overdose.
• Knowledge of the stages of alcohol and other drug withdrawals and ability to take appropriate action at each stage.
• Knowledge of Federal, State and Municipal laws and/or regulations that regulate the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction, including: Confidentiality, Patient Rights, Professional Code of Ethics, and Discrimination.
• Flexibility to adapt to schedule changes and assumption of responsibilities not delineated in the job description which are related to work as a member of an addiction treatment team
• Completes psychosocial intake on clients within appropriate time frames.
• Completes the master treatment plan within the appropriate time frame.
• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making change
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.
• De-escalates AMA and other patient problems.
• Provide Case Management of patients needs including phone calls and letters for the continuance treatment.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Documents all activities in the patient medical record and files all notes in the charts on a daily basis for UR purposes.
• Maintains inventory of AA/NA literature and patient orientation manual with distribution to all patients.
• Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.Attends daily staff meetings to enhance communication with clinical staff regarding program and patient issues.
• Participate in required staff training (minimum 25 hours).
• Complete all assigned paperwork in a neat, accurate and timely manner.
• Complete incident reports according to policy in a timely, accurate manner.
• Communicate with other staff as necessary to promote quality patient care.
• Participate in maintaining clean, properly supplied and efficient work areas.
• Observe and report safety, maintenance problems.
• Interact appropriately with patients, showing them respect while maintaining boundaries.
• Maintain professional demeanor at all times.
• Exercise sound professional judgment and seek assistance as necessary to effectively manage patient behavior.
• Protect the privacy of all patient information in accordance with privacy policies, procedures and practices, as required by federal and state law, and in accordance with the general principle of professionalism as a healthcare provider. Failure to comply with policies and procedures on patient privacy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
• May access protected health information (PHI) and other patent information only to the extent that is necessary to complete your job duties. The incumbent may only share such information with those who have a need-to-know specific patient information you have in your possession to complete their job responsibilities related to treatment, payment or other operations.
• Expected to report, without the threat of retaliation, any concerns regarding policies and procedures on patient privacy and any observed practices in violation of the policy to their supervisor.
• Performs other duties assigned.

Education and Experience:

• A minimum of 2-years substance abuse or related work experience preferred.
• Licensure/Certification (State Dependent) LCSW, LMFT and/or CAAC, CADC, CAP, LPC (Master’s Degree preferred).
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field with 1 year of clinical experience in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting.
• Associate Degree in a related field with 2 years clinical experience in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting.
• Experience in providing services in the mental health or Substance Abuse community.
• Experience working on a multidisciplinary team.
• Tenacity and ability to think out of the box and work creatively to engage participants.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and community resources
• Computer literate. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Physical Requirements:
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Employees will be frequently required to sit for longer periods of time at his/her desk and be on the phone and computer.
• Working Conditions/Environment:
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Position is required to work in indoor and outdoor environments as needed.
• Potential exposure to crisis or high stress situations.
• Potential exposure to airborne/bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious diseases.

This Organization is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer of minorities, females, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected criteria, the consideration of which is made impermissible by applicable law.

Employees can learn more about the company’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the federal “EEO is the Law” poster at: