Substance Use Dependency Professional / Trainee

Major Duties

• Collaborates with the supervisory staff and Program Manager, other senior staff members, and other counselors in building and maintaining an intense treatment environment that motivates clients to focus on problematic behaviors, allows clients to experience the consequences of their actions, and teaches clients more productive coping strategies.
• Affirms team members of specific treatment plans and intervention strategies so that therapeutic consistency can be maintained.
• 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 family.
• Provides motivational counseling to collaterals to encourage participation in family support programs.
• Teaches specialized treatment concepts to client groups according to agency treatment schedule.
• Provides complete and accurate written and oral formats 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.

Knowledge Required

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology, or addictions studies.
• College course work in Substance Use dependency, human sciences, or related field required.
• Successful completion of at least one course per quarter/semester toward educational requirements as necessary to obtain an active Washington State Department of Health SUDP credential required.
• Knowledgeable of a wide variety of therapeutic approaches and the ability to set and maintain therapeutic limits.

Supervisory Controls

• The SUDP/t is under the supervision of the Licensure & Training Coordinator and unit Program Manager.
• Consultation is provided by appointment, informal contacts, and regularly scheduled team meetings.

Complexity

• The incumbent counsels clients who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral, and psychological problems.
• Problems frequently encountered may include a history of varied and complicated criminal activities, mild to serious emotional disorders, a chronic absence of job skills or career goals, serious family maladjustments, poor education, and inadequate interpersonal communication skills.
• The SUDP/t must be capable of developing a variety of treatment approaches for insight development, problem solving, and appropriate confrontation to assist the client to assume a Substance Use free lifestyle.
• Autonomy, clinical maturity, sound judgment, and creativity are required to help identify and monitor policies and treatment activities that will meet the complex needs of the clients.

Personal Contact

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

Physical Demands

• Sits, speaks clearly, hears, uses hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard.
• Regularly stands, walks, reaches with hands or arms, stoops, kneels, crouches, and/or moves a maximum of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally lifts a maximum of 20 lbs.

Working Environments

• 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/staff development activities may be required.