Substance Abuse Specialist

About the role

Elwyn seeks a Substance Abuse Specialist to provide substance abuse rehabilitation, individual counseling, and staff resource education in a therapeutic setting. The primary focus is assisting adult consumers with a primary diagnosis of mental illness and co-existing addiction disorders. The goal is to empower them to achieve social, economic, emotional, and personal independence.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough assessments to understand clients’ substance use and mental health needs
• Collaborate with clients to develop personalized evidence-based treatment plans
• Design comprehensive treatment strategies that address both addiction and mental health concerns
• Support clients in achieving their recovery goals
• Provide one-on-one counseling sessions to address specific challenges
• Facilitate group therapy sessions, fostering a supportive community
• Educate clients on coping skills, relapse prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices
• Offer resources and support to help clients regain independence
• Work closely with interdisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, social workers, and case managers
• Advocate for clients’ needs within the healthcare system
• Stay informed about advancements in substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment through ongoing training opportunities
• Maintain CADAC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor) or equivalent certification
• Uphold professional competence by staying current with industry standards
• Incorporate the PRISM MODEL for the effective treatment of serious and persistent mental illness into daily clinical practices
• Integrate a variety of treatment modalities during clinical interactions with program members
• Facilitate dual diagnosis treatment groups as needed, emphasizing education, motivation, relapse prevention, and evidence-based practices
• Assess mental health status, safety concerns, and potential medication contraindications
• Prioritize client well-being and safety
• Provide in-service training to ACTT (Assertive Community Treatment Team) staff members on various Dual Diagnosis topics
• Foster a culture of continuous learning within the team
• Document consumer preferences during the assessment process and align goals with the Person-Centered Treatment Plan
• Develop skill-based interventions based on individual needs
• Proactively apply principles of non-violent crisis intervention in all situations
• Mitigate or eliminate crisis escalation through effective communication and de-escalation techniques
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), crisis intervention, and medication delivery and management using agency-trained protocols as determined by Region
• Maintain current state-mandated training and certifications
• Assume full responsibility for crisis services, necessitating beeper coverage
• May work evening and weekend hours according to the team model; an on-call rotation will be required as necessary

Requirements

• A master's degree (MA) in rehabilitation counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related human services discipline required
• At least one year of direct addiction services counseling experience required
• CADAC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor) or an equivalent addictions certificate is required
• Non-profit human service experience highly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions
• Must be able to perform CPR and crisis intervention using agency-trained protocols
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated (basic, intermediate, advanced) experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; Access, Publisher, and report-writer experience preferred
• Experience using/knowledge of Electronic Health Record (EHR) / Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Must possess a current, valid driver's license in state of residence, have a minimum of two (2) years of driving experience within the United States, and have an acceptable driving record

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules
• Retirement Savings Plan