Chemical Dependency Counselor

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Job ID: 35990
Agency: Department of Corrections - Behavioral Health
Location: Pierre, SD
Salary: $23.00 to $32.00 per hour, depending on experience
Pay Grade: H
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The South Dakota Department of Corrections is hiring! Join the DOC - view DOC Recruitment video here: .

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Corrections Behavioral Health team. For more information on the DOC, please visit .

This position provides substance use disorder services to the offender population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions.

*** This position is eligible for a $5,000 hiring incentive ****

*** Current and Previous State Employees do NOT qualify for the Hiring Incentive ***

*** Full state benefits and SDRS retirement ***


Why the Department of Corrections?


At the Department of Corrections (DOC), we have an opportunity to make a difference. As a Department of Corrections employee, you will have a chance to experience:

• Creativity - We are always looking for innovative ideas to help us achieve improved outcomes.
• Making a difference - You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of fellow South Dakotans.
• Professional development - We provide valuable trainings to ensure well-trained staff that are competent, accountable, and empowered and will assist you in reaching your career goals.
• Teamwork - In a team-oriented approach, you will have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a friendly work environment to achieve shared goals.

Who We Want:

• a highly motivated and experienced person with a passion for serving the public and displays a high level of effort and commitment towards completing assignments and goals;
• a compassionate individual who listens attentively to others and clearly conveys information and ideas;
• a dependable and organized individual who effectively plans and organizes work activities;
• a person who is dedicated and who will represent the DOC with integrity and enthusiasm;
• an individual who works cooperatively with others and promotes a friendly work climate in order to achieve shared goals.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Knowledge of:

• social, behavioral, psychological, and physical effects of substance use disorders;
• individual and group counseling techniques;
• community resources for the treatment and rehabilitation of client with substance use disorders;
• criminal thinking patterns and corrective thinking process;
• co-occurring disorders.

Skill to:

• effectively communicate and motivate treatment-resistant clients;
• effective time management;
• be organized.

Ability to:

• elicit and identify criteria required to diagnosis substance use disorders;
• gather, interpret, report, and use information concerning clients;
• establish and maintain effective interpersonal counseling relationships with clients;
• formulate treatment plans and make recommendations on client care;
• perform treatment needs assessments and treatment planning;
• facilitate groups and prepare discharge summaries;
• engage in consultation and make appropriate referrals when outside of scope of practice;
• work in a correctional facility;
• adhere to the security of such correctional facility.

What You Will Do:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• direct involvement in screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning;
• provide group and individual counseling and psychoeducational services;
• monitors offender treatment and maintains documentation to assure compliance with standards and to assure continuity of care;
• provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of offenders.
• assures continuity of care for offenders by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies;
• documents electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive offender behavioral health records;
• communicates and responds to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and offender behavioral management issues;
• responsible for maintaining standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards;
• promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.
• informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self-protection skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in alcohol and drug abuse studies, counseling, psychology or related field is preferred.
• Valid certification from the State of South Dakota as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) or Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) is preferred, but would consider Addiction Counselor Trainee (ACT), based on education and work experience.

Conditions of Employment:

The SD DOC is committed to a work environment free from illegal drugs and alcohol. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation, urine drug screen and the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Individuals selected for the position will have the opportunity to carry Oleoresin Capsicum (OC/pepper spray) if desired. If OC spray is carried, the staff carrying OC spay will be required to have direct (level 1) exposure during the training program. Individuals selected for the position must successfully complete a written and practical self-defense exam and successfully complete CPR to AHA guidelines - this includes successful completion of the practical/hands on portion as well as the written exam. Selected individuals must possess the physical ability to successfully complete the practical self-defense exam, which involves the following:

• lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
• use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
• withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;
• rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
• get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions.

Additionally, TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.

***The South Dakota Women's Prison is a National Health Services Corps (NHSC) approved site which can provide opportunities for student loan reimbursement.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume and three professional references.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.


Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.


NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online:
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: View phone number on click.appcast.io Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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