Addiction Counselor - Level II

Since 1875, South Brooklyn Health has established its reputation for clinical excellence and culturally competent care. It holds designations as a Certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, an accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital, and a U.S. News & World Report high-performing hospital. The hospital's staff is as diverse as the patients they serve, with interpreter services available 24/7 in over 130 languages. At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high-quality healthcare services without exception. Every employee embodies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships.

About the role

The Addiction Counselor serves as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, developing and implementing clinically sound, culturally relevant, and medically monitored treatment programs, case management, care coordination, and other supportive services for patients in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment. The role promotes recovery and self-sufficiency while ensuring optimal resource utilization, compliance with regulations, and improved patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Conducts initial screenings, assessments, and ongoing toxicology screenings to develop psycho-social histories, identify SUD and Co-Occurring Disorders (COD), formulate diagnostic impressions, and prepare accurate reports.
• Facilitates and/or co-facilitates individual, group, and family counseling; provides psycho-education and conducts skills training classes.
• Determines appropriate Level of Care (LOC) using tools like LOCADTR to ensure clinically appropriate patient placement.
• Develops and monitors treatment/recovery plans in collaboration with patients and the multidisciplinary team, including short-term and long-term goals, objectives, and interventions.
• Initiates discharge planning, documents treatment plans and outcomes, and maintains confidential case records.
• Participates in treatment progress evaluations and monitors patients’ recovery plans.
• Discusses financial responsibility with patients and provides money management assistance.
• Orients new patients, families, and significant others to program rules, goals, procedures, and expectations; establishes and maintains supportive relationships.
• Coordinates and provides case and care management services, integrating agency, professional, and community resources to address patients’ mental, physical, and behavioral needs.
• Provides crisis intervention and support, seeking additional assistance when needed.
• Acts as a liaison, advising staff on patient needs related to job training, housing, and education; may advise patients on programs and conduct field visits.
• Conducts outreach and advocacy to educate staff and communities on substance abuse, SUD, addiction, prevention, and available services.
• Participates in quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities, trainings, and mandated healthcare events.
• Maintains required certifications, completes continuing education, and submits documentation as required.
• Complies with NYC Health + Hospitals policies, procedures, and applicable local, state, and national guidelines.
• Performs other related duties as directed.

Requirements

Any individual working in a NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)-Certified Treatment Program or newly hired into the title of Addiction Counselor must complete OASAS’s “Supporting Recovery with Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)” training.

Qualifications

For Assignment to Level II:

• Valid CASAC - Level 1 Certificate issued by OASAS; and
• One (1) year of full-time, progressively responsible experience performing SUD assessment, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, case and care management, and other SUD prevention/treatment functions in a SUD treatment program; or
• Qualified Health Professional (QHP) status as described in the qualifications for Level I, with one (1) year of full-time, progressively responsible experience in SUD treatment; or
• Satisfactory equivalent of education, training, and experience.

All candidates must hold a CASAC Level 1 Certificate or meet the definition of a QHP as described above.