Substance Use Specialist

Salary: $72,100 USD per year

Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Substance Use Counselor assists clients with understanding and managing substance abuse.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct or review assessment information to determine the substance abuse needs and preferences of persons served;

• Provide individual counseling or conduct groups that address substance abuse issues as they relate to getting and keeping a job and permanent housing;

• Serve as a liaison to TORCH or other similar programs to continue any substance abuse-related plans and processes while persons served are in the SUD Clinic

• Develop and maintain working relationships with alcohol and substance abuse detoxification, rehabilitation, and treatment centers.

• Ensure that clients have any necessary transportation and escort to substance abuse appointments and participation.

• Provide motivational interviewing to clients as needed.

• Provide group and individual harm reduction counseling.

• Provide cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention techniques.

• Guide the use of onsite drug testing for clients whose service plans incorporate it.

• For clients with mental illness and substance abuse disorders, lay the groundwork for the implementation of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, an evidence-based practice, upon discharge.

• Promote a smoke-free environment

• Monitor the availability and status of Naloxone kits, providing education to staff as to the location of the kits and ensuring that the kits are not expired.

• Collaborate with the peer counselors and use linkages already developed in Brooklyn and Queens with Buprenorphine and Methadone programs and seek to expand these to other locations as needed.

• Assist in the orientation of new personnel when requested.

• Maintain up-to-date, accurate individual paper and electronic case records on each assigned client.

• Comply with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.

• Attend regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities

• Execute emergency plans as outlined in the policy and procedure manual; administers CPR or first aid to staff or residents who require such services.

• Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.

• Obtain and maintain certification as an OD Responder from NYS Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (NYSOOPP) staff.

• Participate in management and supervision meetings.

• Participate in required trainings.

• Immediately reports serious incidents, allegations of abuse, incidents, or sensitive situations and completes incident reports in accordance with agency policy.

• Comply and promote compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and agency policies helping to strengthen and maintain an ethical organizational culture.

• May have on-call responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Committed to the active promotion of ICL values and goals.

• Basic knowledge of the causes and processes of substance abuse disorder.

• Effective problem-solving skills.

• Effective interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work with diverse individuals.

• Ability to create and compose written materials.

• Ability to effectively and efficiently respond to questions from persons served.

• Ability to facilitate a meeting.

• Ability to present information to persons served and other employees

• Ability to work with residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences

• Ability to serve as a role model to clients including modeling appropriate interpersonal interactions, appearance, demeanor

• Ability to effectively use computer software

• Willingness to continually learn and apply knowledge and willingness to participate in in-service training and development activities.

• Ability to function as an effective team member, including performing share of work, cooperating with coworkers, and securing cooperation, and maintaining professional relationships and boundaries with co-workers, supervisors and residents

• Ability to use sound judgment in identifying and solving problems and knowing when to seek assistance.

• Ability to learn, understand and comply with all regulations, policies and procedures.

• Ability to organize time effectively to accomplish all tasks in a timely way and meet deadlines without prompting.

• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a case management plan, meeting all deadlines and productivity standards.

• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.

• Ability to be empathic, actively looking for ways to help people, to be compassionate and hopeful and to believe and help others work toward recovery.

• Ability to engage in active listening, attending to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate

• Ability to identify the nature of problems and to participate effectively in solving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum Education Requirements: Current CASAC plus at least 3 years’ experience providing direct services to people with alcohol and/or drug related disorders. Equivalent training and experience will be considered.

• Bilingual Spanish English speaking preferred

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Equal Opportunity Employer

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