Chemical Dependency Counselor

Chemical Dependency Counselor

The Chemical Dependency Counselor takes primary responsibility for managing client's treatment. The Chemical Dependency Counselor works with different patient populations following the general directions of the clinical supervisor to deliver psychotherapy to assigned patients. Understands and utilizes established concepts and interventions relevant to recovery, as set forth by the various research and supports, to conceptualize and treat behavioral health and substance use problems.

Uses specialized training and other licensure areas of competency as a basis to learn a wide variety of established behavioral health techniques for clients and their families.

Responsibilities:

• Screens and completes substance use level of care assessments under supervision in accordance with licensure requirements.
• Makes recommendations about patients' treatment needs based on screening and assessment.
• Employs a variety of treatment modalities including individual, group, and family counseling for children and adolescent populations.
• Psychotherapeutic techniques and modalities are appropriately matched for clinical needs.
• Develops the treatment plan with patients by assessing their strengths and needs, defining their mental health and substance abuse problems, and setting specific goals and objectives to be accomplished in the course of treatment.
• Meets with supervisor and with the treatment team to discuss a patients' treatment process.
• Is available for crisis work with individuals, groups and families under supervision.
• Continuously and accurately assesses each patient's potential for harming self or another in order to take appropriate action to prevent serious incidents from occurring.
• Works with patients' families, referral sources, and social networks to accomplish the goals of treatment.
• Consults with other community caregivers to strengthen and coordinate social intervention programming.
• Charts the patients' progress in the clinical record and completes all paperwork necessary by MHS policy for professional, administrative, financial and evaluative purposes of monitoring clinical care and of assuring efficient and effective agency operations.
• Participates in quality improvement activities in which the quality of clinical care for the entire agency is monitored by reviewing the clinical charts, reviewing the criteria for admission/continued stay/discharge, performing patient care audits, and investigating adverse occurrences in treatment.
• Screens for primary care needs and encourages patient to follow up with a health care provider of their choice.
• Reads relevant professional literature, attends seminars, workshops, and in-service training as required to remain current on best treatment protocols and techniques.
• Is responsible for delivery of number of units of service budgeted in order to assure the fiscal viability of MHS.

Education/Experience

Required:

• Course work needed to maintain licensure with Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (required)
• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field (Preferred)
• Master's Degree Social Work, Counseling or related field or Ph.D./Psy.
  
  D in (preferred)
• Experience with mental/behavioral health and /or SUD/dual diagnosis (preferred)

Licensure/

Certifications:

• Valid Ohio licensure (LCDC-I, LCDC-II, LCDC-III)
• NVCI (as required per department)
• CPR/First Aid
• Dual Credentialing as a Qualified Mental Health Specialist (QMHS)