Methadone Maintenance Counselor, Department of Psychiatry

Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, and medical direction from the Chief Physician, a Methadone Counselor provides counseling services to individuals suffering from Alcoholism and and/or substance abuse addictions.

Responsibilities

- Establishes and maintains positive relationships with patients, visitors and other employees. Interacts professionally, courteously, and appropriately with patients, visitors, and other employees. Behaves in a manner consistent with maintaining and furthering a positive public perception of Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and its employees.

- Contributes to and participates in the Performance/Quality Improvement activities of the assigned department. Contribution and participation includes data collection, analysis, implementation of and compliance with corrective/improvement activities, membership on CQI teams, consistent adherence to established clinical/performance standards and: adherence to the specific rules and regulations of the B.L.H.C. (a) Safety & Security Policies, (b) Risk Management: Incident and Occurrence Reporting, (c) Infection Control Policies and Procedures, (d) Patient and Customer Service

- Provides substance abuse counseling services to patients, families including psychosocial assessment, short and long term treatment, individual and group therapy and crisis intervention in accordance with hospital standards.

- Carries an active caseload of 50 patients

- Provides required reports, case record documentation, and statistics accurately in accordance with hospital standards

- Develops individual treatment plans as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in accordance with hospital standards

- Maintains accurate patient records and upholds the confidentiality of all records concerning patients as mandated by the Federal guidelines of confidentiality and hospital standards.

- Collaborates with inter-disciplinary treatment team to provide patient care in accordance with hospital standards.

- Conducts discharge planning, follow-up treatment and referrals in accordance with hospital standards.

- May perform Auricular Detoxification acupuncture, if trained, under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist.

- Presents cases as per schedule and records recommendations in the case record under the interdisciplinary case conference treatment planning process in accordance with hospital standards.

- Participates in all departmental meetings and attends all relevant continuing education programs as necessary.

Qualifications

- Minimum 1 year full time paid experience in Addiction Counseling or the equivalent. (Three years life experience that includes satisfactory recovery from alcohol or substance abuse).

- Prior employment or volunteer history in a setting with responsibilities similar to; or giving evidence of ability to perform the responsibilities in the job description.

- Bi Lingual English/Spanish preferred

- Completion of an approved course to provide Auricular Detoxification Acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment in a New York State approved treatment program under the supervision of a licensed Acupuncturist.

- High School graduation (Baccalaureate preferred)

- Basic Computer Knowledge