Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor (English/Spanish)

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor - Intake Coordinator is responsible for overseeing all internal and external referrals for appropriate coordination of care. For all incoming patients the SUD Counselor - Intake Coordinator shares an overview of SUD services and conducts a brief screening of alcohol and other drugs assessment to determine the use history and level of urgency for scheduling. The SUD Counselor - Intake Coordinator with a multidisciplinary team to provide low barrier care for diverse populations, maintaining a professional attitude at all times. The SUD Counselor - Intake Coordinator will be responsible for building and maintaining positive relationships with community partners through outreach and community involvement.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Conducts brief screening of alcohol and other drugs assessments. Assesses and identifies patients' needs for supportive services. Acts as a resource, assists in obtaining, and/or makes appropriate referrals for necessary or requested services. Requests assistance and guidance from the Program Manager and clinical staff when necessary to address patients' issues and problems.
• Ability to work with people at varying stages of change utilizing evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing, trauma informed care and harm reduction practices.
• Services must be delivered in a gender and culturally appropriate fashion. Counseling will be provided in a fashion consistent with State of California laws and regulations, professional standards of care, agency guidelines, and professional ethical guidelines.
• Establishes and maintains contact with community resources to ensure continuity of care (e.g., case managers, rehabilitation and detoxification centers, psychiatric units).
• Timely completion of all required documentation, which includes intake, case management and follow-up notes that are consistent with agency expectations and ethical standards.
• Responsible for completion and submission of required reports in a timely manner.
• Assists in integration of behavioral health services and primary health services by ensuring that all referrals are connected to care.
• Meets productivity standard expectation.
• Ability to proficiently maneuver through all electronic applications for job.
• Performs any other job-related duties as needed, assigned and/or as requested.
• Adheres to SYHealth and HIS Department's policies and best practices, ensuring staff compliance to attendance and punctuality.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Adheres to all applicable SYHealth policies, procedures, protocols, and best practices.
• Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills in collaboration with teams to achieve quality, excellence, harmony and problem-solving to obtain stated goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates active listening skills, respect and a positive "Can Do" attitude.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading literature to keep up-to-date related to Behavioral Health/Substance Use Disorder, attending in-service trainings and workshops to improve upon knowledge and skillset.
• Attends meetings, as required, and participates on committees, as directed.
• Demonstrates professional behavior standard etiquette, courtesy, mutual respect, confidentiality and treats every patient and employee with dignity in every interaction.
• Exhibits a high level of integrity, ethics, transparency, leadership style and trust.
• Promotes and fosters respect for patient privacy by maintaining confidentiality on all patient EHR data and abides by both the HIPAA Privacy and Security rules.          
• Exhibits excellent presentation skills, confidently speaks up, follows the appropriate chain of command, and demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and organized work area at all times.
• Demonstrates supportive skills in providing excellent customer service experience.
• Performs any other job-related duties as needed, assigned, or requested.

Job Requirements:

Experience Required: 

• At least one-year full time (or equivalent) experience working with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), criminal justice involved and co-occurring populations.
• A basic understanding of the role of medication assisted treatment and Substance Use disorder treatment in a medical setting is helpful but not required.

Education Required:

• HS Diploma/GED Equivalent

Licenses Required:

• Drug and Alcohol Certification recognized by Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Valid California driver's license and proof of automobile liability insurance.

Verbal and Written Skills Required to perform the Job:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required.  Ability to provided intake and assessment services fluently in English and Spanish.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Provides positive customer service skills.
• Is an active listener and provides support and guidance to others.

Technical Knowledge and Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Knowledge ofrehabilitation and recovery treatment modalities.
• Integrated Treatment and Care for individuals with co-occurring disorders. 
• Demonstrate ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate in working with minority communities. 
• Demonstrate respect for diversity. 
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy, and judgment in dealing with a variety of people with a variety of co-occurring disorders. 
• Organize, set priorities, and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, family members, other professional staff, and the public.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills required. 
• Ability to proficiently maneuver through all electronic applications for job.
• Superb organizational ability and exceptionally analytical.

Equipment Used:

• Computers, Software systems, Scanner, Telephones, Copy and Fax machines.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: 

• Prolonged, extensive, and considerable Sitting. Manual dexterity and mobility.
• Good organizational skills and ability to remain focused.
• Ability to handle multiple job task functions simultaneously.
• Ability to work harmoniously with others as a team member.
• May be required to work evenings and/or weekends, and provide staffing coverage as needed.

Universal Requirements

Pre-employment requirements include I-9, physical, positive background and reference check results, complete application, new hire orientation, pre-employment PPDs. Compliance with all mandated vaccinations and all boosters is a term and condition of employment.

About Us San Ysidro Health is a Federally Qualified Health Care organization committed to providing high quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable healthcare services for the entire family. The organization was founded by seven women in search of medical services for their families and community. Almost 50 years later, San Ysidro Health now provides innovative care to over 108,000 patients through a vast and integrated network of 47 program sites across the county. San Ysidro Health could not serve our patients without the dedication of our passionate and hardworking employees. Apply today and become a part of our mission-driven team! San Ysidro Health has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity for all applicants for employment.  Employment decisions including, but not limited to, those such as employee selection, performance evaluation, administration of benefits, working conditions, employee programs, transfers, position changes, training, disciplinary action, compensation, and separations are made without regard to race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming), creed, national origin, nationality, citizenship status, domestic partnership status, ancestry, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, civil union status, family status, age, mental or physical disability (including AIDS or HIV-related status), atypical heredity cellular or blood trait of an individual, genetic information or refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available the results of a genetic test, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.