Lead Counselor

About the role

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is a leading provider of addiction treatment services, committed to transforming lives through compassionate care. The Lead Counselor position involves leading a caseload, participating in facility committees, and managing various management-related duties.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the completion of patient databases, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other essential documentation in accordance with applicable federal and state standards and agency policies and procedures.
• Provide patients with orientation regarding objectives of the program, phase system requirements, rules and regulations, sanctions, hours of services, patient rights, and additional information to help patients adjust to the program.
• Assure each patient is assessed and placed according to the treatment phases in accordance with Federal and State standards and agency policies.
• Assure all clinical documentation and patient charts are updated in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Counsel patients in crisis situations by identifying patient resources and coping abilities to help patients cope with and resolve crisis.
• Counsel patients who have refused to comply with specific program requirements to increase patient awareness of consequences of non-compliance.
• Arrange referrals to other agencies and resources in the community when appropriate.
• Perform treatment plan reviews.
• Participate in case conferences and case reviews in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Review counselor documentation and sign off on documentation as directed by the Clinical Supervisor or Clinic Director.
• Assist with the overall direction and development of all substance abuse services.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and grievance hearings as needed.
• Conduct/assist with weekly staff meetings with the counseling team.
• Conduct/assist with ongoing review of counselor’s case files to ensure compliance with Federal, State and PTC requirements.
• Assist Clinical Supervisor/Director with annual performance reviews of the counseling staff.
• Assist Clinical Supervisor/Clinical Director as needed in state and CARF inspections, staff meetings and other areas.
• Assist with in-service training to clinical teammates on regularly scheduled basis.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date case files on each patient on their caseload and team caseload per federal, state and PTC requirements.
• Oversees substance abuse counseling case assignments and discharges.
• Attends team meetings and completes all training courses timely as required.
• Attends ongoing training per program/Federal/State requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Possess certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor with a CA approved certification agency or current credentials as licensed or license-eligible with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology.
• If license-eligible, must maintain the Board’s requirements to be able to practice including receiving the necessary amount of clinical supervision by a Board approved supervisor.
• Proof of licensure or certification by a State approved regulatory agency is required immediately once employed.
• Employees must be credentialed prior to providing any counseling services per the DHCS (Department of Health Care Services).

Qualifications and the review of support documentation will be evaluated for approval.

Preferred

• Demonstrated leadership qualities amongst the counseling team.
• Demonstrated superior clinical skills and the ability to share expertise with others.