Drug And Alcohol Counselor

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the Chief Clinical Services Officer, the Drug and Alcohol Counselor is responsible for providing and documenting individual and family counseling, have standards of behavior, line of responsibility and authority.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Ages Served. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care/service appropriate to the age of the patients/individuals served. Demonstrates and possess the ability to assess data reflective to the patients'/individual's status and interpret relative to his age-specific needs and to provide the care/service needed.
2. Assists in the development and implementation of special public relation activities, including community contact, in-house contacts, referral source, and community education programs as needed.
3. Charts patient progress notations and discharge summary on the medical charts.
4. Prepares bio/psy/social summary.
5. Conducts individual, group and family counseling sessions for program participants and others, as needed.
6. Consults and maintains appropriate correspondence with community healthcare practitioner's pertaining to individual patients arranges family meeting sessions, continued outpatient therapy, seminars, etc., as needed.
7. Diagnoses and develops effective multidisciplinary treatment plans for patients, with demonstrated knowledge and skills in the core function of chemical dependency counseling. Assumes case management responsibilities for assigned patients.
8. Maintains and meets expectations on time for all competencies, license, certifications, and education requirements as outlined by local administration, Adventist Health (AH), The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other regulatory agencies.
9. Participates as a team member in policy meetings, patient review meetings, counselor meetings and daily report meetings.
10. Prepares for and presents educational lectures on various topics for participants once a week, or as directed. Conducts department in-service meetings on pertinent issues related to chemical dependency, as necessary.
11. Provides appropriate referrals to various community resources that address psychosocial issues to be resolved post discharge (e.g., Vocational rehabilitation, family therapy). Assists patients and their families in accepting in seeking out assisted living facilities, and structured living situations such as recovery and sober living homes.
12. Stays current with new chemical dependency treatments, therapies, theories, etc., by reading professional literature and attending related seminars and conferences, as necessary and appropriate.
13. Willing to perform other duties and innovations as assigned by supervisor.

QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS:

1. Maintains a professional relationship and positive attitude with co-workers, the public, patients and all Ampla Health's staff, Board of Directors and vendors
2. Maintains the highest professional ethics and is honest in dealing with people; is a model for all employees through his/her actions
3. Strive to learn more and is receptive to learning different ways of doing things
4. Displays enthusiasm toward the work and the mission of Ampla Health

PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

1. Education and Experience: Associates degree in a related field preferred or a combination of a Associates degree, personal recovery experience (three years of continuous sobriety required if in recovery), plus specialized training in chemical dependency and CD treatment experience.
2. Education and Experience: Minimum of one year related experience and/or training in residential chemical dependency treatment preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
3. Licenses or Certifications: CADAC/NADAC certification preferred.
4. Basic computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint required.
5. Creative skills Capable of assisting in the development of new programs, policies and procedures.
6. Good writing and English grammar skills.
7. Thorough understanding of the 12-step program of chemical dependency recovery
8. Working knowledge of psychiatric disorders and medications in order to evaluate the need for assessment by the psychiatric consultant

COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS:

1. Must have neat and legible handwriting
2. Must be able to interact with patients and staff courteously and calmly
3. Ability to communicate well with the public