Addiction Counselor - Level I

Duties & Responsibilities

• Conducts initial screenings and assessments of patients, and performs ongoing toxicology screenings to obtain pertinent information about SUD and Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) and develop psycho-social histories of patients to identify and isolate potential SUD and other specific patient problems; formulates appropriate diagnostic impressions; prepares accurate screening, intake, and assessment reports.
• Facilitates and/or co-facilitates individual, group, and family counseling for patients admitted to a SUD treatment program, provides psycho-education, and conducts skills training classes.
• Makes decisions and maintains required records regarding appropriate Level of Care (LOC) using patient criteria tools, such as LOC for alcohol and drug treatment referral (LOCADTR), a patient placement criterion system, to ensure that a patient in need of chemical dependence services is placed in the most clinically appropriate level of care.
• Develops and continually monitors treatment/recovery plans in collaboration with patients and members of the multidisciplinary team, including establishment of short-term and long-term treatment goals, objectives, and specific interventions.
• Initiates discharge planning criteria, accurately records treatment plans that are consistent with established standards and applicable administrative rules, and documents treatment outcomes, using accepted methods and instruments.
• Participates in the evaluation of treatment progress and monitoring of patients’ recovery plans.
• Prepares and maintains confidential case records and files and records progress of patient in relation to treatment goals and objectives.
• Participates in relevant staff meetings and discussions and documents services provided in case records and files in a timely and accurate manner and in compliance with all applicable standards, to ensure appropriate reimbursement.
• Discusses financial responsibility with patients in the case of outstanding bills, and provides money management assistance.
• Provides orientation to new patients, patients’ families and significant others, to familiarize them with the program’s rules, goals, procedures, services and expectations over the course of treatment; establishes and maintains relationships with patients’ families and significant others, and provides support by ensuring appropriate referrals, identifying service gaps, expanding community resources and helping to address unmet needs.
• Collaborates in providing case and care management services and activities that integrate supportive services, agency, professional and/or community resources in a planned framework of action, which address a patient’s mental, physical, and/or behavioral needs in order to achieve the patient’s established goals.
• Provides crisis intervention and support by responding to and following-through in crisis situations, and seeks additional assistance in the management of crisis situations, when needed.
• Acts as a liaison and advises staff of patient needs with regards to job training, housing, and education programs; may advise patient on job, education, or drug treatment programs, and may make field visits to community services.
• Conducts outreach activities and provides advocacy designed to educate staff and communities on substance abuse, substance use disorder, addiction, prevention and availability of services.
• Participates in and/or completes internal/external quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities, programs, trainings and related mandated health care events, as required.
• Holds and maintains required certification(s) and completes required continuing education; submits appropriate documentation within an established timeframe.
• Complies with NYC Health + Hospitals policies and procedures, and applicable local, state and national requirements and guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Any individual working in a NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)-Certified Treatment Program or newly-hired into the System in the title of Addiction Counselor in a NYC Health + Hospitals health care setting must have proof of completion of OASAS “Supporting Recovery with Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)” training.
• For Assignment to Level I Valid Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) - Level 1 Certificate issued by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS); or
• Is otherwise considered a Qualified Health Professional (QHP) based on licensure, certification and/or registration along with appropriate experience and/or training as defined in Section 800.4 (U) of the OASAS Treatment Services: General Provisions, Title 14 NYCRR Part 800 (https://oasas.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/09/800.pdf).