Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee

Lifeline Connections is a community-based behavioral health organization that specializes in providing confidential and compassionate care to individuals who experience substance use and/or mental health conditions.

About the role

Through superior customer service, high quality programs, and well-trained and dedicated staff, we inspire hope and support lifesaving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions. The Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee provides counseling and case management for clients of the agency, assisting supervisory staff and the Program Director in program review, daily management of treatment activities, and training/orientation of junior staff and trainees. This position is responsible for the daily treatment activities for clients on their caseload and provides clinical services to agency patients.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with supervisory staff, Program Manager, other senior staff members, and counselors to build and maintain an intense treatment environment that motivates clients to focus on problematic behaviors, experience consequences of their actions, and learn productive coping strategies.
• Assesses the psychosocial functioning of assigned clients and develops individualized treatment plans.
• Apprises team members of specific treatment plans and intervention strategies to maintain therapeutic consistency.
• Leads treatment groups according to agency treatment guidelines.
• Develops discharge/aftercare plans and makes appropriate referrals for follow-up care.
• Documents relevant clinical information including treatment plans, treatment reviews, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Provides crisis intervention services, information, and referrals to clients and their families.
• Provides motivational counseling to collaterals to encourage participation in family support programs.
• Teaches specialized treatment concepts to client groups according to agency treatment schedule.
• Communicates complete and accurate written and oral information regarding the course of treatment to families, referral sources, and legal representatives.
• Recommends and participates in the development, design, and documentation of policies, procedures, and activities for the agency.
• Conducts alcohol/drug assessments pursuant to WAC 246-341 or its successor.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology, or addictions studies.
• College coursework in Substance Use dependency, human sciences, or related field.
• Successful completion of at least one course per quarter/semester toward educational requirements to obtain an active Washington State Department of Health SUDP credential.
• Knowledge of a wide variety of therapeutic approaches and the ability to set and maintain therapeutic limits.
• Flexibility, versatility, and skill in developing creative behavioral interventions to modify inappropriate behavior.
• Capability to function autonomously while maintaining continuous communication with other staff members.
• Broad knowledge of the stages of human personality development, including cultural, social, and psychological factors affecting individuals and families involved with substance use.
• Knowledge and practice of crisis intervention theory.
• Understanding of the various theories, forms, stages, and manifestations of addictive behavior, including resistance to change, socio-cultural barriers, and alternative coping mechanisms.
• Understanding of the theory and practice of individual and group treatment of chemical-abusing clients to facilitate self-examination, expression of feelings, insight development, problem-solving, and motivation for a chemically free lifestyle.
• CPR/First Aid Certification required for inpatient staff members.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with others and maintain great attendance.

Work Environment

• Most working hours are spent indoors in offices or meeting rooms.
• Occasional supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats or staff development activities may be required.
• Regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear, and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keyboard.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or move a maximum of 20 lbs. Occasional heavy lifting may be required.

Personal Contacts

Contacts include members of the treatment team, clients, significant others of clients, administrative supervisory and clerical personnel, employers, representatives of community agencies specializing in chemical abuse treatment, lawyers, parole officers, and other court officials. All contacts are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws dealing with the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse client/patient records.

Pay

$26.46 - $29.27 per hour, depending on experience. New hire bonus: $5,000.

Benefits

• Multiple options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Employer-paid Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance.
• Access to supplemental coverage options.
• 401(k) retirement plan for full-time and eligible part-time employees.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) with accrual rates that increase with years of service.
• Paid holidays and personal holidays.