Assessment Counselor

SUMMARY: Looking for a counseling position with a dynamic, dedicated team? National Capital Treatment & Recovery, a nonprofit substance use treatment facility in Arlington, VA is looking for a Clinical Assessments Counselor with a passion for recovery! The Clinical Assessments Counselor is a vital part of the Assessments and Admissions team and must be able to perform in a fast-paced, mission-based work environment. The right candidate will have strong collaboration and communication skills, clinical expertise, background using ASAM placement criteria, and a desire to work with individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse. This position is responsible for conducting assessments and intake interviews for prospective patients and making clinically appropriate recommendations for care. Experience with diagnosing co-occurring mental health disorders and using motivational interviewing are a must! The Clinical Assessments Counselor is also responsible for consistent maintenance of chart documentation in accordance with agency, Virginia licensure and CARF standards. The Clinical Assessments Counselor obtains funding information (insurance, state funding, private pay information. etc.) and verifies it as needed. This position also operates as a liaison with NCTR programs referral sources. Onsite supervision for some license-eligible candidates may be available as well. This is a full-time, Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm, salaried position with full benefits. *Must have 60 credit Masters and eligible to become a Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work or have a CSAC in Virginia*

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for conducting assessments and intake interviews
• Work with referral sources to ensure that admissions occur in a timely manner
• Assess prospective patients for appropriateness for treatment, including consequences of chemical use and makes appropriate treatment recommendations
• Team with Clinical Director and Development staff to keep program census at a high level
• Provide and inform NCTR residential programs of all patient-related information to ensure smooth transition from local treatment to residential treatment
• Assist and support transition from referral and intake to program staff at admission
• Provide ongoing collaboration, staffing and treatment planning with program staff regarding patients’ progress as needed
• Assist prospective patients, their families, and/or referral sources in identifying, verifying, and arranging funding; obtain benefit or funding information from insurance companies, state funding sources, or other sources
• Establish thorough understanding of the various funding alternatives available to prospective patients and how these are accessed; obtain necessary information from patients, their families, and/or referral sources to determine funding availability
• Document all funding information obtained and provide all billing information needed to NCTR Finance Department
• Act as advocate for patients, i.e., attend court hearings, provide documentation and recommendations, etc. as needed
• Submit written clinical requests to Medicaid for authorization as needed
• Responsible for maintaining ethical standards and continued professional growth, including:

a. Abide by Program and NCTR policy and procedures.

b. Ensure all CARF standards are instituted and maintained

c. Promote, in public and private contacts, the quality standards and ethical practices of NCTR staff.

d. Continue professional growth by attending workshops, trainings and staff

in-service trainings to increase skill and knowledge and to set appropriate example for staff

e. Maintain current licensure/certification including CPR and First Aid.

f. Maintain professional boundaries with staff and clients.

g. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Masters Degree in Counseling/Human Services/Social Work/Nursing or related field
• Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work in Virginia required OR RN license in Virginia
• Minimum three (3) years substance abuse treatment experience
• Experience in appropriately applying ASAM and diagnosis criteria
• License (LPC, LSATP, LCSW, RN) preferred

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledgeable of the medical aspects of addiction, including co-occurring diagnosis, and must have excellent assessment skills
• Possess a thorough knowledge of various treatment methods and experience working with diverse populations.
• Possess the knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply DSM 5 criteria
• Possess a high level of organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Strong computer knowledge, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, record keeping and general office methods
• Must have problem solving skills and a high degree of self-motivation
• Must be organized and able to prioritize duties and tasks
• Must have the understanding and ability to appropriately apply ASAM criteria
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment in a team setting

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. In the course of performing this job, one typically spends time sitting, walking, standing, carrying, lifting up to 10 pounds, listening, speaking, typing, reading, and writing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities .

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.

NCTR is an Equal Opportunity Employer