JOB SUMMARY:

The Substance Use Counselor assists clients with understanding and managing substance abuse.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct or review assessment information to determine the substance abuse needs and preferences of persons served;
• Provide individual counseling or conduct groups that address substance abuse issues as they relate to getting and keeping a job and permanent housing;
• Serve as a liaison to TORCH or other similar programs to continue any substance abuse-related plans and processes while persons served are in the SUD Clinic
• Develop and maintain working relationships with alcohol and substance abuse detoxification, rehabilitation, and treatment centers.
• Ensure that clients have any necessary transportation and escort to substance abuse appointments and participation.
• Provide motivational interviewing to clients as needed.
• Provide group and individual harm reduction counseling.
• Provide cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention techniques.
• Guide the use of onsite drug testing for clients whose service plans incorporate it.
• For clients with mental illness and substance abuse disorders, lay the groundwork for the implementation of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, an evidence-based practice, upon discharge.
• Promote a smoke-free environment
• Monitor the availability and status of Naloxone kits, providing education to staff as to the location of the kits and ensuring that the kits are not expired.
• Collaborate with the peer counselors and use linkages already developed in Brooklyn and Queens with Buprenorphine and Methadone programs and seek to expand these to other locations as needed.
• Assist in the orientation of new personnel when requested.
• Maintain up-to-date, accurate individual paper and electronic case records on each assigned client.
• Comply with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.
• Attend regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities
• Execute emergency plans as outlined in the policy and procedure manual; administers CPR or first aid to staff or residents who require such services.
• Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.
• Obtain and maintain certification as an OD Responder from NYS Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (NYSOOPP) staff.
• Participate in management and supervision meetings.
• Participate in required trainings.
• Immediately reports serious incidents, allegations of abuse, incidents, or sensitive situations and completes incident reports in accordance with agency policy.
• Comply and promote compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and agency policies helping to strengthen and maintain an ethical organizational culture.
• May have on-call responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Committed to the active promotion of ICL values and goals.
• Basic knowledge of the causes and processes of substance abuse disorder.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with diverse individuals.
• Ability to create and compose written materials.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently respond to questions from persons served.
• Ability to facilitate a meeting.
• Ability to present information to persons served and other employees
• Ability to work with residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences
• Ability to serve as a role model to clients including modeling appropriate interpersonal interactions, appearance, demeanor
• Ability to effectively use computer software
• Willingness to continually learn and apply knowledge and willingness to participate in in-service training and development activities.
• Ability to function as an effective team member, including performing share of work, cooperating with coworkers, and securing cooperation, and maintaining professional relationships and boundaries with co-workers, supervisors and residents
• Ability to use sound judgment in identifying and solving problems and knowing when to seek assistance.
• Ability to learn, understand and comply with all regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize time effectively to accomplish all tasks in a timely way and meet deadlines without prompting.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a case management plan, meeting all deadlines and productivity standards.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to be empathic, actively looking for ways to help people, to be compassionate and hopeful and to believe and help others work toward recovery.
• Ability to engage in active listening, attending to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
• Ability to identify the nature of problems and to participate effectively in solving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum Education Requirements: Current CASAC plus at least 3 years’ experience providing direct services to people with alcohol and/or drug related disorders.  Equivalent training and experience will be considered.
• Bilingual Spanish English speaking preferred

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