Substance Use Counselor

Substance Use Counselor (Sepulveda Substance Use)

This is an on‑site position in Culver City, CA. The hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am‑5:00pm.

The pay range for this position is between $21.38–$24.59 per hour.

Ask us about loan repayment programs you may qualify for by working at Didi Hirsch.

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole‑person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services since 1942 and is home to the nation's first Suicide Prevention Center. We are a nonprofit organization providing care to about 270,000 people annually across our programs. Didi Hirsch has deep roots in community‑based mental health and a commitment to providing culturally responsive services that are just and equitable.

More than 1,000 dedicated employees and volunteers make Didi Hirsch's work possible.

As a Substance Use Counselor, you will provide comprehensive intake assessment and individual, family, and group counseling services to adults with substance use issues and coordinate support services to assist clients with case management needs. You will also collaborate with other professionals to ensure the provision of integrated mental health, physical health and substance use treatment that is culturally congruent with our clients' needs and assess, facilitate, and document group and individual counseling sessions, addressing individual progress and outcomes, ensuring compliance with Agency, state licensing and other regulatory standards and guidelines.

• Conducts/facilitates individual and group substance use prevention education and awareness, and counseling sessions and provides routine case management including assessment, intake, crisis intervention, and exit interviews for adults or adolescents with a history of substance use.
• Interfaces with agencies such as the Department of Mental Health, Department of Child and Family Services, criminal justice services, Public health and other related community agencies and resources to give and receive information relative to clients.
• Maintains documentation of all counseling sessions, substance use services and other services; ensures compliance with Didi Hirsch policies and procedures, contracts and other regulatory agencies.
• Supervises program participants with conflict resolution and medication compliance as needed.
• Developing and refining program curricula and materials.
• Develops and maintains counselor skills through seminars, workshops, or other forms of training/education.
• Attends and actively participates in all team and staff meetings, community meetings and supervision/consultation.

• Certified Substance Use Counselor with limited professional experience OR a Registered Substance Use Counselor with 1–2 years of experience in the behavioral health field, preferably focusing on substance use.
• Certified in one of the state approved certification agencies for substance use.
• Experience working with youth and adults in group presentations and process. Sensitivity to ethnic and cultural differences. Experience with community organization, program planning and implementation. Knowledge of substance use prevention and community resources. Ability to work some evening hours and to arrange work schedule to the benefit of the program.
• Have a working knowledge of case management and conducting/facilitating individual and group counseling sessions for appropriate clients to be served.
• Support the values and mission of Didi Hirsch as related to employment.
• Know and comply with Didi Hirsch Agency policies and procedures, HIPAA, DMH, Child and Family Services, policies and documentation guidelines, and other state, federal regulations relating to program.
• Demonstrate current knowledge of all job specific skills: to include mental health programming, psychiatric crisis intervention; documentation; group/individual counseling; multi‑cultural and socio‑economic issues.
• Basic advocacy skills.
• Present ideas, information, and viewpoints clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Efficiently use the personal computer including word processing and electronic chart system software.
• Ability to work…