Mobile Unit Substance Abuse Counselor

SIGN ON BONUS: $1000 paid out after 90 days of employment

The Counselor is responsible for assisting patients in identifying, maximizing, and relating their strengths to appropriate social, educational (academic and vocational), and occupational goals. The Counselor is also responsible for helping the patients prepare and adjust to a drug free existence, and to offer assistance (emotional and physical) in problematic issues. The Counselor is responsible to the Counselor Supervisor or Program Director for provision of services to assigned patients and adherence to schedules, established program policies and procedures, and applicable federal, state, local and accrediting agency re5ulatory requirements.

The Counselor will perform duties within the scope of their license or certification which are an addendum to this job description.

The key responsibilities of the Counselor include but not limited to:

• Conduct alcohol and drug abuse counseling sessions on a regular basis per state regulation, or as part of the individual treatment plan
• Prompt and regular attendance at an assigned work location.
• Locations will vary based on Mobile Unit Route. This may require being transported to different location on the Mobile Unit from a centralized starting point.
• Work with program teams to ensure patient full engagement in the program and to conduct patient outreach efforts
• Meet with all prospective patients to explain program involvement and requirements using motivational enhancement strategies
• Support external efforts by engaging with referral partners, community organizations, and healthcare providers to build awareness of the program
• Conduct group counseling sessions as required
• Orient patients to the treatment program’s operation and procedures
• Collect available social, educational, economic, and vocational information to be used as part of the assessment process
• Implement or revise patient treatment plans with the patient as required per state regulation and record a review of the patient’s progress according to BHG policy
• Develop within (10) days of entry or as required by state guidelines, whichever is more stringent, a formal treatment plan documenting patient goals and update utilizing the same guidelines.
• Maintain patient records that are complete, comprehensive and well organized
• Submit records for periodic review as requested by supervisory team
• Document all patient contacts. If other team members provide services to the patient, the assigned counselor is responsible to see that such contacts are documented in the patient’s chart
• Make appropriate referrals through case-management services and perform necessary follow-up
• Assist the Program Director in implementing new programs into patient treatment
• Advise the Program Director of problems encountered with caseload management and schedules
• Attend weekly treatment team meetings prepared to both lead the discussion where appropriate and also discuss his/her assigned individual patient caseload
• Provide in-service trainings to counselors and other treatment center team members as needed
• Hold a basic understanding of alcohol/drug abuse and addiction. Additionally, keep up-dated on current drug abuse and treatment information, especially current trends in Opioid Maintenance Treatment
• Provide intake/readmission services, including several weeks of supportive follow-up counseling for new patients until their assignment to a primary counselor
• Provide, monitor, and document follow-up calls/contact to all discharging patients for at least 30 days
• Provide crisis intervention/support services to patients assigned to other counselors when their primary counselor is unavailable
• Provide inter-agency reports/documentation required for third party reimbursement, criminal justice proceedings, supplemental income assessments, emergency services, and other specialized treatment needs of patients as applicable
• Coordinate care with other community providers as needed
• Meet BHG attendance standards and be present and ready for work…