Addiction Counselor - Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan, and neighboring communities. The hospital provides culturally-sensitive care in a welcoming and hospitable setting, emphasizing primary care medicine and utilizing the latest advances in medical science. Metropolitan delivers high quality health services with compassion, dignity, and respect to all, without exception. Since its founding in 1875, the hospital has been affiliated with New York Medical College, representing the oldest partnership between a hospital and a private medical school in the United States. Metropolitan is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country.

About the Role

The Addiction Counselor serves as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, participating in and/or leading the development and implementation of clinically sound, culturally relevant, and medically monitored treatment programs, case management, care coordination, and other supportive and consultative services for patients in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment. The role promotes recovery and self-sufficiency as a goal of treatment, ensures optimal utilization of resources and services, and complies with all applicable local, state, and federal rules and regulations, as well as NYC Health + Hospitals standards of care.

Responsibilities

• Conducts initial screenings and assessments of patients, including ongoing toxicology screenings, to develop psycho-social histories and identify SUD and Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) issues; formulates diagnostic impressions and prepares accurate reports.
• Facilitates and/or co-facilitates individual, group, and family counseling for patients in SUD treatment programs; provides psycho-education and conducts skills training classes.
• Determines appropriate Level of Care (LOC) using tools such as LOCADTR to ensure clinically appropriate placement for patients needing chemical dependence services.
• Develops and monitors treatment/recovery plans in collaboration with patients and the multidisciplinary team, including establishing short-term and long-term goals, objectives, and interventions.
• Initiates discharge planning, documents treatment plans and outcomes using accepted methods, and maintains confidential case records and files.
• Participates in evaluating treatment progress and monitoring patients’ recovery plans.
• Discusses financial responsibility with patients regarding outstanding bills 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 supportive services, 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 to advise staff on patient needs related to job training, housing, and education programs; may advise patients on these programs and conduct field visits to community services.
• Conducts outreach and advocacy to educate staff and communities on substance abuse, SUD, addiction, prevention, and available services.
• Participates in and/or completes internal/external quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities, trainings, and mandated healthcare events.
• Maintains required certifications and completes continuing education, submitting documentation as required.
• Complies with NYC Health + Hospitals policies, procedures, and all applicable local, state, and national requirements.
• 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 System in the title of Addiction Counselor must have proof of completion of OASAS “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 functions related to SUD prevention and treatment in a SUD treatment program; or
• Qualified Health Professional (QHP) status as described in the qualification requirements, with one (1) year of full-time, progressively responsible experience in SUD assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and case management; or
• Satisfactory equivalent of education, training, and experience.

All candidates must have a CASAC Level 1 Certificate issued by OASAS or meet the definition of a QHP as described above.