Substance Abuse Specialist

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Substance Use Specialist-ACT Program

Summary: This member of the ACT multidisciplinary team has training in one of the mental health professions and clinical skill and experience to assess, plan, develop, coordinate, and provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to program clients with severe persistent mental illnesses under the clinical supervision of the team leader and the psychiatric nurse practitioner. The ACT Substance Use Specialist is responsible to carry out rehabilitation and support functions and assist in treatment; substance abuse services; education, support, and consultation to families; and crisis intervention under the clinical supervision of staff with professional degrees.

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt

Reports To: ACT Team Leader

Essential Functions:

1. Provide service coordination (case management) for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising overall treatment goals and plans in collaboration with the client and with the ITT; provide individual supportive therapy and symptom management; ensure immediate changes are made in treatment plans as clients' needs change; educate and support clients' families; and advocate for clients' rights and preferences.

2. Counsel clients in individual and group sessions to assist them in dealing with substance abuse, mental and physical illness.


3. Consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.

4. Initiates individual sessions to assess for the root cause of addiction and provides strategies to assist clients in. recognizing the factors that compels one to indulge in alcohol or drugs.

5. Provide drug and alcohol counseling and support to individuals, regarding the use and effects of alcohol and drugs and develops strategies to assist in quelling urges and avoid them by teaching coping skills.

6. Provide on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime hours and serve as a backup to evening and weekend staff.

7. Document client progress via EHR to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.


8. Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings.

9. Provide clients or family members with information about addiction issues and about available services or programs, making appropriate referrals when necessary.


Psychiatric Treatment and Dual Diagnosis Substance Abuse Services:

a. Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of clients' mental illness symptoms and clients' response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g., suicidality).

b. Assist in the provision of symptom education to enable clients to identify their mental illness symptoms.

c. Assist in the provision of direct clinical services to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.

d. Assist in the provision of individual and group treatment in the office and in community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-centered goals.

e. Coordinate with outside inpatient services to detoxify clients and establish linkage to self-help programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous), and residential facilities.

f. Participate in the provision of rehabilitation services.

10. Maintains and submits proof of active auto liability insurance for privately-owned vehicles used to conduct agency business and/or transport agency clients. Employees must submit proof of insurance prior to employment and each time policy is renewed thereafter. Failure to maintain active coverage and submit proof may result in disciplinary action.


11. Maintains and submits proof of active auto liability insurance for privately owned vehicles used to conduct agency business and/or transport agency clients. Employees must submit proof of insurance prior to employment and each time policy is renewed thereafter. Failure to maintain active coverage and submit proof may result in disciplinary action.


12. Transports clients as directed and follows Agency standards, rules, regulations and all laws for safe transport.

Competencies:

1. Communication Proficiency

2. Accountability for Others

3. Balanced Decision Making

4. Leading Others

5. Flexibility

6. Initiative

7. Analysis of Data

8. Problem Management

Supervisory Responsibility: No

Required Education and Experience: At least one-year work experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders and one year of working with clients with substance abuse issues or supervised experience with this population. Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential. The individual must possess good communication and interpersonal skills and have a working knowledge of community resources. The individual must possess a Louisiana driver's license and have access to an insured automobile. Licensed or working towards licensure is recommended (LPC, PLPC, LMFT, PLMFT, LAC, CIT).

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit, use hands, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee can sometimes be exposed to weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana, Inc. offers a comprehensive benefit package to include: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 403-B Pension Plan, Short and Long Term Disability Insurances, Life Insurance, paid annual holidays, Vacation and Sick leave.

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana, Inc. considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.