Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Working Title: Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Program: Jail Diversion
Pay Range:$23.24-25.62/hour 
Location: The Dalles (Serves clients in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman County)
FTE: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per Week)
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) that specializes in providing services that are both trauma-informed and recovery-oriented to persons / consumers with mental illness and addictions. Trauma-informed care includes safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment for both clients and staff. MCCFL serves Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties and utilizes a consumer-involved, consumer-engaged and consumer-driven model. MCCFL provides a whole-person care approach to adults and children to address both physical and mental health needs. MCCFL offers a variety of programs including a mobile crisis unit, intensive case management, ongoing counseling, community support, supported employment, jail diversion, hospital discharges, hearings and more.
Classification General Statement:
The Alcohol and Drug Counselor 1 provides professional substance abuse disorder evaluation, treatment, referral, and monitoring services.  This position requires a CADC 1 (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor 1), and it provides services within the scope of that certification.

Essential Responsibilities of the Classification:

• Provide screening and assessment in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Evaluate and screen clients in accordance with procedures and policy guidelines; verify personal information and records; determine level of care, education and treatment. Make referrals as necessary.
• Provide individual, group and family therapy services as appropriate.
• Coordinate client placement into residential treatment and/or transitional housing as necessary.
• Performs joint case planning and coordination in substance abuse treatment and prevention issues with other community agencies such as schools; group homes; community corrections and detention facilities; community hospitals; and other Department of Human Services programs.
• Provide timely and accurate clinical documentation consistent with Agency policy; this includes treatment records, service plans, progress notes and other required documentation.  Utilizes Agency electronic health record,   maintaining the integrity of the system within the scope of practice.
• Provide screening and participate in the treatment of mental health issues. Actively participate in joint case planning and coordination with internal multi-disciplinary team and agency psychiatrists.
• Perform observed urine collection for drug testing for same gender clients.    
• Regular and reliable attendance.
• Participate in all team and agency meetings as scheduled. 

Position Specific Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide screening and assessment in the treatment of substance abuse disorders with the Jail Diversion and other teams as needed.
• Provide timely and accurate clinical documentation utilizing Agency clinical software system; this includes treatment records, service plans, progress notes and other required documentation.  Maintain the integrity of the electronic records system within the scope of practice.

Job Specifications Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position’s essential responsibilities is qualifying. This might typically include:

• Certification as CADC 1, OR
• Documented equivalence to CADC 1 certification standards (i.e. 1,000 hours supervised experience in substance abuse counseling, 150 contact hours of education and training in alcoholism and drug abuse related topics as required by ACCBO, and [if recovering] 2 years of sobriety) AND ability to achieve a passing score on the NCAC 1 national certification exam within 60 days of hire.
• Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred and may be required for some positions.
• Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business offices, meetings and/or trainings. The successful applicant must be able to be approved to provide transportation for clients using Agency vehicles.

Other Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge:  Knowledge of substance abuse disorder and its progression, knowledge of substance abuse treatment and recovery models and strategies; knowledge of interviewing and group counseling practices and techniques; knowledge of local and regional resources available for client services; knowledge about Severe Persistent Mental Illness and the interconnectedness between substance use and mental health, basic knowledge of mental health evaluation and treatment.

Skill:  Skill in the use of clinical software systems; skill in the use of standard office software; skill in keyboarding.

Ability:  Ability to understand and effectively apply the concepts and practices of a trauma-informed philosophy in performing the work. Ability to work within strong professional ethics and rules of confidentiality to provide effective substance abuse disorder assessment, referral, and treatment.  Ability to work with consumers to develop an effective service plan; ability to write and maintain timely and cogent progress notes, service plans, reports and other professional documents; ability to maintain a strong service orientation; ability to organize and execute work effectively under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines; ability to speak before groups of various sizes; ability to work with grace and good humor under pressure; ability to work cooperatively with other departments; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, within Sanctuary Model guidelines; ability to establish and maintain harmonious work relationships with co-workers at all levels of the organization, consultants, contractors, community partners, and consumers.

Leadership Received:  This position works under the supervisory leadership of the Jail Diversion Supervisor and Community Support Services Manager. 

Leadership Exercised:  This position is not responsible for providing supervisory leadership to any other classification.

Physical Demands:
The Alcohol and Drug Counselor 1 must have the ability to quickly assess and respond to concerns related to interpersonal and environmental safety. While performing the essential duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to use office automation including computer and phone system that requires fine manipulation, grasping, typing and reaching. The employee may be required to sit or stand for several hours at a time, depending on environment and need. This position may occasionally be required to lift up to twenty (20) pounds, and to kneel, reach, bend or squat while in the office or in the community.

Work Environment:
Work is performed primarily in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties, in community based setting but occurs in various settings, including office environment, community settings and other agency stakeholder facilities. The office environment is typically with moderate stimuli and may often result in exposure to increased sensory experiences. Community settings, such as such as court rooms, Community Corrections, residence, schools, police precincts, respite facilities, hospitals and other public spaces may pose additional risks or discomforts which require safety precautions. The Alcohol & Drug Counselor I is expected to perform work responsibilities in the same settings in which employees are required to work.  The employee should possess a valid driver's license for vehicle travel between business offices in order to attend required meetings and/or trainings.  (An alternate mode of reliable transportation may be acceptable.)  Additionally, the incumbent must be approved to provide transportation for clients using agency vehicles.

While this description is intended to accurately reflect the activities and requirements of the Alcohol & Drug Counselor I position, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. Job responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate the needs of the individuals served by this agency. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.

MCCFL provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

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