Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY:Counselors are responsible for delivering individual, group, and family counseling services to clients with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Core responsibilities include completing required clinical documentation such as psychosocial assessments, Individual Treatment/Service Plans (ITP/ISP), progress notes, and monthly reviews. Counselors actively participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, monitor client progress throughout care, and contribute to discharge planning to ensure continuity of services. They provide crisis assessment, intervention, and de-escalation to promote client and staff safety, while guiding peers to ensure consistent and appropriate responses to critical situations. Counselors develop and implement approved curricula to support group and individual counseling sessions, utilizing evidence-based practices tailored to client needs.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:Provide individual, group, and family counseling to address substance use, co-occurring disorders, and mental health concerns.Conduct thorough client screenings and assessments; develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans based on each client’s strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences.Utilize evidence-based counseling and psychotherapy approaches to evaluate and treat emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and affective conditions.Deliver services via secure distance-based platforms when appropriate, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.Assess client needs and determine appropriate modalities of care, including crisis intervention, referrals, and coordination with ancillary services (e.g., family support groups, continuing care, medical services).Conduct intake interviews and determine program eligibility and appropriateness for services or referral to external providers.Provide crisis intervention, following WestCare policies and procedures, and take immediate action as needed to ensure client safety.Report unusual incidents, safety concerns, or compliance issues to the Residential Clinical Coordinator, Program Director, Regional Vice President, or regulatory agency as appropriate.Monitor, evaluate, and document client behavior, progress, and participation throughout treatment.Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical documentation, including progress notes, assessments, and reports in accordance with agency and regulatory standards.Follow all WestCare policies, procedures, and professional standards of practice.Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, counselor meetings, and discharge planning discussions to support continuity of care.Educate clients and families about recovery resources, relapse prevention, and coping strategies.Support aftercare planning by assisting clients in identifying community resources and ongoing recovery supports.Ensure regular and consistent attendance to maintain continuity of client care.Promote and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.Perform other duties as assigned to support program and client needs.ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:Demonstrated commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards in working with clients, colleagues, and the community.Ability to maintain professional boundaries and avoid all dual relationships with clients (including personal, financial, business, social, or sexual relationships).Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment and initiative.Capacity to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team-oriented environment.Knowledge of and adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards related to substance abuse and mental health treatment.During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.Experience providing counseling to adults with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders preferred.Familiarity with evidence-based practices and treatment modalities for substance abuse and mental health counseling preferred.Bilingual proficiency to support a diverse client population preferred.EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:Minimum Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or related human services field.2+ years of experience in a similar setting, with experience in group and individual counseling preferred.LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:CAP preferred.WORKING CONDITIONS:Indoor and outdoor settings.Group and/or individual counseling sessions.Direct contact with clients of all ages and levels of functioning.Fast paced environment.Potential for high noise level at times.A minimum of 40 hours per week is required; however, there may be times when more than 40 hours a week is expected to complete job tasks. Regular attendance is required.ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:PHYSICAL DEMANDS:Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 30 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employees’ essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.MENTAL DEMANDS:Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques. #J-18808-Ljbffr WESTCARE GULFCOAST-FLORIDA INC