Mental Health Professional I / ACT Substance Abuse Counselor (Catawba)

Substance Abuse Counselor For The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Substance Abuse Counselor for the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Catawba Community Mental Health Center (CCMHC), 205 Piedmont Blvd, Suite 100, Rock Hill, SC 29730

As a Mental Health Professional I / Substance Abuse Counselor, on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, you will provide evidence-based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require higher levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for this Mental Health Professional I / Substance Use Counselor:

• Provide direct services to patients using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention and use outreach and motivational interviewing techniques in earlier stages of change readiness.
• Facilitate access to 12 step groups and other community groups.
• Conduct comprehensive substance use assessments and assesses and tracks beneficiary's stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
• Ensure patients are seen in accordance with their needs and the team's treatment approaches are consistent with beneficiary's stages of change readiness.
• Facilitate the person-centered planning process for beneficiaries assigned to them.
• Participate in clinical supervision, treatment team meetings, and pursue professional development. Serve as a consultant and educator to ACT team members on the topic of integrated dual disorder treatment.
• Complete documentation according to Office of Mental Health / Quality Assurance standards, comply with Corporate Compliance Policy and Risk Management Plan, and ensure timely completion of prior authorizations.
• Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, Cultural Affairs, and clinical trainings.

Minimum and Additional Requirements:

• A Masters' degree in guidance, counseling or the social sciences or a related field.
• Licensed as an Addiction Counselor in SC or Master Addiction Counselor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Additional Comments:

• Practical therapeutic knowledge of principles, methods and counseling practices and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of addictions and mental disorders.
• Ability to listen, understand and communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Knowledge of psychopathology, family dynamics, family and group psychotherapy.
• Ability to identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Be able to deliver services in the community and patients' homes.
• Perform all job duties and provide all services and documentation in compliance with CARF, OMH, CCMHC, Quality Assurance, Compliance, HIPAA, Transcultural and Productivity Standards, Policies and Procedures.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices:
• State Retirement Plan ( SCRS )
• State Optional Retirement Program ( State ORP )

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.