Lead Substance Abuse Counselor

Compassionate Lead Counselor Needed!

The Lead Counselor will provide treatment and casework services to patient as directed by the supervisor in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and with Bay Mark policies and procedures. Provide timely documentation of patient services based on plan of care. Identify other physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs for assigned patients. Manage related expenditures in a fiscally responsible manner in accordance with the company’s budget.

Assist the Program Director and Clinical Manager in various administrative responsibilities. Provides training to new Counselors.

• Provides leadership for Counselors and input for inductor evaluations of new counseling staff.
• Assists in orienting new staff to roles, routines, and responsibilities according to policy and procedure by acting as preceptor and resource person, monitoring orientation checklist, and reporting identified needs.
• Participates in Clinical, Admission panels and in program activities that identify staff education needs
• Signs Treatment plans, discharge summaries, and Phase requests.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and timely patient files.
• Assists in chart audits by monitoring program compliance with record keeping requirements.
• Identifies problems with risks per JCAHO and other regulatory guidelines.
• Assists in the organization of various schedules to be approved by Program Director/Clinical Manager.
• Maintains responsibilities of caseload.
• Assists Program Director/Clinical Manager in daily program operation.
• Coordinate care of assigned patients and present patient status and concerns with treatment team accordingly.
• Conducts comprehensive patient assessments and the development and implementation of patient treatment plans according to State OTP regulations.
• Provide clinical services and patient care and education and opiate addiction counseling services to patients receiving methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment.
• Conduct individual counseling sessions.
• Provide patient advocacy and liaison services with community and regulatory agencies as needed. (CSAT, State Methadone Authority, Probation / Parole Office, courtesy dosing, housing, food, etc.)
• Monitor condition of patient to evaluate success of therapy, and adapt treatment as needed.
• Assist in program evaluation efforts that describe and assess quality of services
• Comply with any and all Federal and State regulatory standards as specified.
• File body specimen test results (UA’s) in patient file and uses test results to monitor success of treatment and as a tool for assessing eligibility of patient for take-home medications.
• File various types of patient paperwork into chart.
• Coordinates with medical professionals to facilitate annual justifications, approval for Step Levels/ Exceptions and dose adjustments for patient.
• Submits timely requests for take homes as deemed appropriate.
• Document patient progress notes and ensure that frequencies and counseling units are met.
• Conduct patient intake and orients patient to program.
• Compose interpretative summary, transition plan and discharge summary for each patient.
• Ability to handle stressful situations and interact with others.
• Must be present during working hours at the office for in person meetings and access to a computer without violating company policy.
• Provide crisis intervention, as needed.
• Assist in program development activities.
• Support organizational and departmental philosophies, goals, and objectives and through own behavior lead and motivate others to do so.
• Communicate with counselor regarding pertinent patient information.
• Regular attendance is to be maintained.
• Adherence to a code of conduct conducive with Bay Mark Services policy…