Substance Use Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, service planning and supportive counseling services
• Provide independent living skills training, supportive therapy, case management, community support, crisis intervention and stabilization services to ACT clients
• Coordinate and integrate care with SUPR services at ACT KYC for clients participating in services
• Provide regular consultation to medical, clinical agency and ACT team member staff to assist with treatment planning, assessment and provision of services to clients demonstrating active or prior substance use behaviors
• Utilize recovery and harm reduction principles to help ACT clients meet their goals around substance use
• Aid in referrals for additional services consistent with assessed needs and consumer’s desired outcomes
• Absorb services to improve client ADLS and independent living skills, including money management, apartment maintenance, and medication training
• Promote symptom stabilization thru medication monitoring, education, and assisting participants to take as prescribed
• Promote physical health, address substance use issues, establish access to entitlements, and develop skills to support participants engaging fully in their lives and communities
• Support clients who are unhoused or residing in temporary housing to locate permanent housing as part of their comprehensive treatment plan
• Meet regularly with ACT members to integrate care provision and share clinical responsibilities so that adequate coverage is available to clients at all times
• Promote opportunities for clients to build natural systems of support within their communities through exposure to recreational, spiritual, educational, vocational, volunteer and civic activities
• Participate with other ACT members in regular 24/7 on-call crisis and stabilization coverage
• Work with Assertive Community Treatment team Supervisor, Program Assistant, and Team members to assess, plan, and participate in provision of services
• Meet productivity target estimated at 40-50% billable service
• Participate in supervision as directed and seek additional clinical and program consultation as needed
• Participate in All Staff meetings, Department meetings, Team meetings, and other staff meetings and trainings as directed by supervisor
• Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures
• Complete all clinical documentation and required reports in an accurate and timely manner following KYC policies
• Meet agency quality and compliance standards

Treatment Services

• Delivered at flexible times that meet clients’ needs and in settings that offer the best potential for positive outcomes, that includes a rotating schedule with the team to cover evenings and weekends
• Supporting clients to live independently, employee may be exposed to varying home conditions

Treatment Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting, up to 50% of time

Travel Requirements

• Employee is required to travel by automobile to and from Mt. Prospect, and Elk Grove office locations on a weekly basis, as well as daily client visits to client homes in the Chicagoland area and transporting clients in personal vehicle

Education, Experience And Other Requirements

• Preferred Masters Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology or a related discipline, will accept lower education requirement for candidates with current or pending Illinois CADC certification
• Preferred CADC Certification
• 1-2 years experience working with individuals with serious and persistent mental illness with co-occurring substance use issues providing a variety of clinical interventions including case management and community support
• Preferred exposure to working in non-traditional treatment environments i.e.in-home, residential, hospital, nursing facility, and community settings
• At least 1 year of specialized training and/or work experience providing substance use services
• Basic computer proficiency, knowledge of Word and Internet skills, smartphone messaging and internal collaboration applications (ie Microsoft 365 / Teams)

Qualifications

• Valid IL Driver’s License and daily access to a well maintained/insured vehicle
• Schedule/Timekeeping Exempt, Full-Time, 37.5 hour work week
• Able to participate in rotating on-call schedule to ensure 24/7 coverage (additional stipend)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer