Counselor I (Jrp)

Position Close Date: 01/25/2024

Position Summary: The Counselor I is responsible for providing outpatient individual and group counseling services to justice-involved clients including clients engaged in prison/jail diversion and reentry programs. Required to interact with a multidisciplinary team comprised of counselors, parole officers, mentors, and employment specialists.

Compensation:$20.14- $26.85/hour(Depends on Experience and/or Certifications).This is a full-time position with excellent benefits! Benefits package includes medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, 403(b) with automatic 5.5% contribution after 18-months regardless of employee participation, flexible spending account, employee assistance program, and other voluntary benefits and discounts. Generous paid time off plan includes 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second year, and 26 days in the third year.

Education, Training & Experience:

• Register with MHACBO as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC I) candidate within 30 days of hire.
• CADC I certification required within 24 months of registering with MHACBO.
• Relevant coursework or 1 year experience in counseling, psychology, social work, addictions treatment or related field.
• Knowledge of criminal behavior and at-risk populations.
• Familiarity with reentry issues that face justice-involved population.

Competencies:

• Mission focused and passionate, with an emphasis on serving high-risk populations in evidence-based practices.
• Commitment to and actions consistent with the highest level of ethical and professional standards.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to write accurate, concise reports while meeting tight deadlines.
• Well-developed clinical documentation skills and a strong commitment to quality management.
• High level of cultural competence.
• Computer literate functional ability with electronic medical records, Word and Outlook.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

• If recovering from a substance use related disorder, must be able to demonstrate continuous sobriety under nonresidential, independent living conditions for the immediate past two years. 
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Reliable form of transportation

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide culturally informed individual and group counseling services congruent with evidence based treatment models.
• Conduct substance abuse assessments, substance abuse diagnoses and make client placement decisions using standardized instruments, ASAM, and DSM criteria.
• Identify client mental health concerns for referral and further assessment.
• Develop individualized treatment plans for individuals in consultation with the client, the client’s family (when appropriate), and representatives of community partners.
• Complete and maintain, in electronic medical records, accurate and timely treatment documentation including progress notes; treatment plans; court reports; assessments and summaries; and termination summaries.

Other Responsibilities:

• Attend and actively participate in individual and group supervision and other meetings as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor.
• Work in a friendly, collaborative manner with community partners, including frequent communication regarding each client’s progress with Parole and Probation Officer and Recovery Mentor.

Supervisory Responsibility: Position is not responsible for supervision of other employees.

Work Environment:

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects and keyboard, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk or hear.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions:

• Services are conducted in a secure setting with the treatment space and office located in the Multnomah County Inverness Jail.
• Must be prepared to handle client crises and/or emergencies.

Schedule: This is a full-time position; 40 hrs. per week.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required for this position.

Volunteers of America Oregon is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.