Mental Health Counselor - Employee Assistance Program

Marketing Statement
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Occupational Health and Wellness (OHAW) department is seeking an experienced Employee Assistance Program Counselor who will be responsible for clinical services, including assessment for mental health & substance abuse, surveillance drug and alcohol testing, referrals, case management, and counseling to all Metro employees referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The incumbent is also responsible for developing and implementing treatment plans for clients, developing and facilitating outreach and educational content, maintaining confidentiality of all client-related documentation, conducting risk assessments, and performing crisis intervention when necessary. The ideal candidate will be proactive, flexible, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be a responsive team player, and exercise discretion in a complex occupational health setting. This role is critical to OHAW operations and requires a strategic thinker who is highly organized, empathetic, an adept problem-solver, and a skilled multitasker.
The Employee Assistance Counselor is responsible for providing clinical services including assessment for mental health & substance abuse, surveillance drug and alcohol testing, referrals, case management, and counseling to all Metro employees referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Other responsibilities include developing and implementing treatment plans for clients, handling complaints and conflicts, developing and presenting new in-service training events to the EAP staff, maintaining all client-related paperwork, assessing patients for suicidal risk, and performing crisis intervention when needed.
Assesses patients for risk of suicide attempts.
Assists in the development and implementation of effective EAP training by developing training materials for all organizational levels.
Interacts significantly on a daily basis with management and medical personnel to recommend courses of action on referrals and case management.
Prepares and maintains clinical EAP Records that accurately document intake interviews, assessments, referrals, case management interviews, treatment progress reports, drug/alcohol test results.
Provides EAP related consultation services to all WMATA management employees.
Provides clinical services including assessment, referral, case management, short-term counseling, and EAP surveillance alcohol & drug testing, as indicated, for all WMATA employees referred to the EAP.
Refers for employees Independent Medical Evaluations when indicated
Conducts Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) assessments in compliance with relevant US Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and Metro policies.
Conducts comprehensive substance abuse education and training for employees that have violated Metro's policies pertaining to the use and abuse of prohibited substances.
Presents EAP portion of New Hire Orientation.
Assists in development of a competent, reliable, and accessible network of treatment providers and community resources that are covered by Metro's various health insurers.
Contributes to the development and implementation of a comprehensive continuous improvement program evaluation procedure to ensure compliance with Metro policies and procedures.
Provides testimony in concert with Health & Wellness management, Labor & Employee Relations and Legal & Compliance in response to unemployment claims and arbitrations
Assists in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, effective and continuous EAP marketing program to improve utilization of services among employees.
Encourages clients to express their feelings and discusses what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
Provides personal assistance and emotional support to Metro employees and dependents, as needed.
Handles complaints, settles disputes, and conflicts, or otherwise negotiates with others.
Learns the various Metro Employee Benefits Programs, treatment provider network, and community resources.
Performs chain-of-custody urine collection for drug testing and breath alcohol tests on employees as assigned and enters negative alcohol tests from these tests into the tracking database.
Prepares and presents in-service training events to EAP staff on the latest developments in the employee assistance program field.
Maintains and manages surveillance drug and alcohol testing.
Consults directly with Medical Review Officer regarding verified drug results
Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles.
Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.
Knowledge of human resources policies, procedures, and regulations as stipulated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Affirmative Action guidelines
Knowledge of Psychology, human behavior and performance; Knowledge of therapy and counseling, the principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance
Knowledge of clinical assessment, the theories, principles, practices, and techniques for clinical assessment of mental health and/or substance abuse issues and for providing short-term counseling to individuals
Knowledge of education and training, the: principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects
Knowledge of the principles and practices for Employee Assistance Programs
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
Skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
Skills in assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action
Skills in communicating effectively at all levels of the organization, both orally and in writing
Skills in monitoring and assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action
Skills in organizing, planning, and prioritizing work, developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work
Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
Ability to use words and sentences in writing so others will understand
Machine, Tools, Equipment, Software, Hardware Required
Telephones
E-mail software
Internet browser software
Microsoft Office suite software
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related field required.

Three (3) years of experience in employee assistance, mental health counseling, drug or alcohol treatment programs

must obtain DOT SAP certification within 90 days of hire
LGPC-Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor
LCPC-Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Master's Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related field preferred.

• 5 years of experience in employee assistance, mental health counseling, or drug/alcohol treatment programs preferred.
• Licensed in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia as a Social Worker or Counselor