Substance Abuse Technician

Employees at Bernalillo County enjoy the ability to team up with each other to build a high quality of life for our county residents, communities, and businesses. The County offers many benefits, including generous leave accruals, career development opportunities, remote and flex-work options, longevity pay, education assistance, health benefits, and a lucrative retirement plan.

About the role

The Substance Abuse Technician provides professional-level support in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. This position delivers detoxification services, facilitates therapeutic activities, and monitors client progress in accordance with treatment plans. The technician works directly with clients and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to support recovery, education, and reintegration into the community.

Responsibilities

• Obtains relevant information about clients through interview, assessment, and case history; assists and supports clients through addiction detoxification and recovery; observes, intervenes, and reports client adherence to program goals and objectives.
• Works in conjunction with other department staff to administer scheduled program curriculum and other activities utilized for treatment and rehabilitation of substance abuse.
• Gathers and researches data utilized to track the reliability and validity of treatment that has been provided; makes recommendations regarding modification of services and service delivery.
• Processes new clients, including issuance of clothing, orientation to the rules of facilities, and assistance with daily activities, events, and informational literature.
• Provides education to individuals and groups in the community and facilitates group presentations and workshops.
• Transports clients to appointments and other service locations outside of assigned program.
• Maintains progress notes and documents on behavioral incidents through observation of clients and maintains confidential records.
• Participates in reviews of job performance and adheres to recommended measures for change.
• Receives guidance and training from Program Supervisor within the division.
• Maintains current knowledge base on counseling issues regarding substance abuse through conferences, educational training, and networking with other agencies or groups.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned or required.
• Handles sensitive and/or confidential records, plans, documents, or decisions that require maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Two (2) years of work experience involving substance abuse, healthcare, law enforcement, emergency management, or corrections.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Screening and Compliance

• Successful completion of a post-offer employment medical examination and background investigation.
• Adherence to all County safety guidelines.
• Completion of all FEMA training(s) assigned to this position.
• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver’s license by the date of hire and maintenance of a valid license while employed in this position.
• Completion of required supervisor training, if applicable.
• Pursuant to the criminal history screening for Caregivers Act, new hires at the MATS facility will be required to complete caregiver criminal history screening. Conviction of a disqualifying condition is cause for termination or sufficient reason not to hire.
• May be required to work different shifts, program reassignments, or mandated overtime as needed.
• This position is classified as safety-sensitive. Employees are subject to pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and random drug & alcohol testing.

Working Conditions

• Essential job duties are performed indoors in a climate-controlled environment.
• Indoor work surface is even, dry, carpeted, or tiled floor.
• Works primarily alone, with or without direction, and occasionally with groups or a select team.

Equipment, Tools, and Materials

• Equipment typically used includes telephone, computer, printer, and copy machine.
• Handles various forms of paperwork in performance of essential job duties.

Pay

$18.60 - $26.50 per hour