Substance Use Specialist

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Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State's first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org
Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.
Benefits:
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.
Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works' New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union ("RWDSU"). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a "CBA") between Housing Works and the RWDSU
 
Compensation Range: $24.00/hr- $26.00/hr commensurate with experience 

Overview: 

Housing Works' East Harlem OASAS Clinic provides specialized Substance Use Treatment Services for multiple underserved populations, including persons with mental illness (i.e. MICA) who suffer from ongoing mood and/or perceptual disorders; persons with Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury who suffer permanent neurological damage that affects motor skills and/or cognition; persons with Intellectual Disabilities who suffer from cognitive impairments; LGBTQ individuals; the unstably housed; persons with chronic health concerns; and persons involved in the criminal justice system. Housing Works' OASAS Clinics uses a trauma-informed, harm reduction approach (including abstinence-based treatment in accordance with legal mandates) as its foundation for the treatment of Substance Use disorders. At our East Harlem Clinic, we also provide specialized interventions for persons with Developmental Disabilities (Adaptive Recovery Model) and Persons with Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury (Modified Cognitive Rehabilitation Model). The Substance Use Counselor reports to the Assistant Director and is responsible for providing multiple aspects of clinical services to clients through varied clinical assessments of high risk behaviors, mental health/Substance Use treatment needs, crisis intervention, individual counseling and group facilitation. The counselor will also facilitate psycho-educational/therapeutic support groups, encompassing Harm Reduction and Recovery Ready treatment approaches.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Completes initial and episodic psychosocial, Substance Use assessment, treatment plans, and timely discharges.

Remains aware of all clinical documentation policies that ensure comprehensive client care in order to meet the regulatory agencies' guidelines.

Provides individual counseling and facilitation of weekly groups. Facilitates harm reduction, recovery readiness, relapse prevention and active user groups. Participates in all programmatic meetings and trainings.

Establishes Substance Use treatment goals and interventions with clients, as part of the interdisciplinary treatment planning process.

Coordinates with and develops linkages with detoxification, rehabilitation, methadone maintenance programs, and other needed resources to facilitate client referrals.

Completes weekly, monthly program reports, including familiarity with STARS, HRA-HASA Harm Reduction Report, parole/probation/ACS and collaboration with the courts around client mandates.

Performs crisis intervention services and, if necessary, refers clients for psychiatric assessment, psychotherapist counseling. Consults with supervisor and completes incident reports on all including trauma or behavioral problems related to Substance Use requiring OASAS interdisciplinary intervention.

Assist with the development of effective interventions and treatment plans

Participates in agency wide continuous quality improvement activities aimed at improving health outcomes for program participants

Maintains HIPAA confidentiality standards

Performs other duties as assigned by Program Director and/or Director of OASAS services.

Supports and participates in advocacy efforts to end the twin crises of homelessness and AIDS.

Minimum requirement is associate degree, Bachelors preferred from accredited school and/or certified CASAC or experienced CASAC-T within the scope of OASAS program regulations.

Candidate should have at least two years of experience in providing counseling services to HIV/AIDS individual, mentally ill population and Substance Use.

Experience in chemical dependence/harm reduction/recovery program is required. Skill in group facilitation and counseling are preferred.

Ideal candidate should be able to employ a variety of clinical techniques, theories and skills set to elicit sensitive information, handle crises and work effectively in an interdisciplinary team.

Strong organizational skills and proficient in Spanish are highly preferred.

Do you hold a current CASAC license in NY?