Substance Use Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Title: Substance Use Counselor

Department: Substance Use Program

Reports to: Carlos Freytes 

Job Type: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt 

Job Location: Chicago Metropolitan Area 

  Salary Range: $35,000 to $42,000 Dependent on certification and experience.

Rincon - Building Spaces, Restoring Communities- Who we are:

What began as a small clinic established by young community leaders on the West Side of Chicago in 1972 has grown into one of the largest providers of high-quality and culturally competent services focusing on counseling and crisis intervention services, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention, education, case management, community and family services. We are dedicated to rendering compassionate and effective programs to promote the quality of life by catalyzing to advocate, educate and empower individuals and their families. 

Position Description – What the Role Entails:

The Substance Use Counselor works as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that provides therapeutic and rehabilitative services, counseling, case management and integrated dual-diagnostic treatment. The team works to address all treatment needs, including crisis management, substance use treatment, medication management, physical health treatment, mental health treatment, accessing benefits and entitlements, and other supportive services.

Company Culture - Do Our Values Speak to You?

At Rincon, our commitment to mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity is woven into the structure of all that we do. We value: 

• Dedication- Embodying effective and transparent leadership and quality client care. 
• Education – Preventative programming and clinical services based on industry standards, competence and outreach.
• Accountability – Consistent service delivery, measurable success, and sensible financial management.
• Advocacy – Empowerment, reduction of treatment stigma, and relationship building with partners.
• Compassion – Embracing culturally diverse communities and equality through sensitivity to individual needs.

With these values in mind, we promote a culture that fosters professional development and agency success. Many of our employees span an extended tenure, and we pride ourselves on developing dedicated and supported team members.

Areas of Accountability - What you will be doing:

• Provide direct service to individuals. This includes implementing initial treatment plans, providing ongoing therapy, updating treatment plans, continuing stay reviews, counseling case management, and providing crisis intervention services and referrals if needed.
• Provide assigned group sessions weekly.
• Provide HIV counseling and testing services as required.
• Monitor toxicology screens and work with the Medical Department to adjust privileges according to client track records.
• Provide on-call services for individuals in crisis; this will occur in rotation with other team members.
• Attend all required meetings and trainings according to program standards.
• Participate in regular supervision from the Clinical Supervisor, seeking additional supervision when necessary. Minimum requirement of two hours of documented supervision per month.
• Provide coordination and linkage with community agencies.
• Maintain client records using electronic medical records. Must be documented as required by program standards and funding requirements including documentation of clinical interactions, behavioral health assessments and individual service plans.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to CCC Policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support.
• Compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access. This includes immediate reporting of any PHI breach of CCC or outside provider health records to the CCC Legal and Quality departments, as well as the program administrator.
• Any staff holding specialized certifications should exercise the certification in a clinical setting, i.e., staff processing a QHEIC certification should attend at least 10 hours of HIV training annually and at least 1 test per month (if applicable).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• During a typical year, a full-time staff member will have 1,352 hours of potential direct service hours. It is expected that 82% (1,108 hours) be direct clinical hours. 
• As part of this organization’s commitment to quality service, all staff must complete the following trainings annually, however other trainings will be scheduled based on the program or funding requirements.

ANNUAL TRAININGS:  

As part of this organization’s commitment to quality service, all staff must complete the following trainings annually, however other trainings will be scheduled based on the program or funding requirements. 

• Orientation to Agency Policy and Procedures 
• Orientation to IDHS Administrative Rules and Regulations 
• Orientation to agency treatment philosophy 
• Orientation to EMR, email system, and other software associated with program 
• Customer Service 
• Cultural Competency and Diversity 
• Person-centered services and treatment planning 
• Workplace Violence and De-escalation techniques 
• Ethics 
• Health and Safety, Emergency Procedures 
• Critical Incident, Abuse and Neglect Reporting 
• Rights of the person, Confidentiality, Advanced Directives 
• Corporate Compliance, Grievance and Satisfaction Survey Process 
• Orientation to organization’s programming, inter/external referral process 
• Education on medical treatment (methadone and psychotropic medication) 
• Program-specific trainings 

Requirements:

The Knowledge and Expertise that Matters Most - What you bring to the Role:

• Good listening, interpersonal, and counseling skills. Ability to tailor communication styles in order to make the client feel comfortable.
• Ability to engage clients in a clinical and respectful manner.
• Initiative, ability to think of the big picture.
• Strong Assessment and Treatment Planning skills.
• Pharmacology of acute, chronic, and withdrawal effects of drug use.
• Understanding of/able to interpret results of urine screens and toxicology tests.
• Understanding HIV, Hepatitis, TB, and other infectious diseases of this population.
• Understanding of mental illness issues of this population.
• Understanding of internal and external medical and supportive services.
• Cultural competency and sensitivity.
• Fast, accurate documentation skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Position Qualifications – What is required to Perform the Role:

• Must be certified as an ICB Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).
• If not CADC certified, employees must obtain certification within the first two years of employment or be terminated for not being able to perform their services.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Individuals with a high school diploma with substance abuse experience may also be considered. 

Rincon Rewards & Benefits- How we value you:

• Health insurance 
• Dental & Vision insurance
• Life insurance 
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Generous PTO (Paid time off)- Accrue up to 21 days in Year 1, some PTO carryover allowable. 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Professional Development Opportunities 
• Employment may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Certain employees may qualify for City of Chicago commuter transit benefits

Rincon’s Work Environment – What to expect:

Physical Demands: The Counselor must be able to successfully perform essential functions of this job including carrying charts to and from their offices/desk, preparing for group activities that may include moving chairs and or tables, carrying bags/boxes of food, or decorating group activity areas. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees are responsible for informing their supervisor of any invisible disability or medical restrictions that limit physical capability. 

Language:

• Spanish fluency, bicultural applicants strongly preferred.

RINCON FAMILY SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER