SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR

Responsibilities

• Schedules intakes, and group and individual sessions.
• Discusses specific cases with case managers to determine if they are appropriate for substance abuse treatment.
• May assist with the assignment of cases.
• Facilitates psycho-educational/behavior modification groups using principles of the “What Works” system.
• Documents participants’ attendance, participation and progress in Company database.
• Creates individual treatment plans for each assigned participant.
• Mets regularly with participants and documents participants’ progress or regress in Company database.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with outside referral sources, such as in-patient substance abuse facilities or detox facilities.
• Actively pursues and develops referrals from probation and evaluating agencies.
• Identifies problem areas that may impact participants ability to successfully complete treatment.
• Guides participants to develop strategies to overcome obstacles to success completion of treatment.
• May advise Customer of participants progress regularly or at completion of treatment.
• Collects participants fees for program participation.
• Tracks fee collection for office or group of offices.
• Ensures that participants records are accurately completed in a timely manner.
• Selects and recommends new instructional materials and programs for use in the substance abuse program.
• Maintains knowledge of new developments in the field of substance abuse.
• Maintains a collegian relationship with other substance abuse professionals, programs, and associations.
• Participates in related training for substance abuse.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or its equivalent.
• Certified as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a certification recognized by ADP.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy services to an offender population.
• Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Ability to interact in a professional manner in both individual and group counseling settings.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with a team of professionals and have the ability to implement team strategy approaches to work assignments.
• Effective communication skills with internal and external contacts at all levels.
• Problem solving ability.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Bi-lingual skills (English/Spanish) may be required as well as experience dealing with specific cultural groups.
• Problem solving ability.
• Good presentation, public speaking and facilitation skills.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Knowledge of client record management.
• Able to work with computers and the necessary software typically used by the department.