Substance Use Specialist, Assertive Community Treatment; ACT

ACTIVELY RECRUITING

Position: Substance Use Specialist, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Function: Serves as a clinical staff member with the lead responsibility for integrating dual-recovery treatment and harm reduction with the tasks of all team members and for linking clients to local resources such as self-help groups and detox/rehab services.

Reports to: Team Leader, ACT

Location: The Bronx

Schedule: Mondays through Fridays (9:00pm-5:00pm)

An excellent opportunity for an experienced human service professional to play a pivotal role in changing the life trajectory of New Yorkers who have suffered extraordinarily in their lives from homelessness, violence, trauma, untreated behavioral health conditions, incarceration, discrimination, and extreme poverty.

The multi-disciplinary ACT team will consist of a Team leader, Licensed Clinicians, a Registered Nurse, a Psychiatrist, Substance Abuse Specialist, Employment Specialist, Housing Specialist, Family Specialist and a Peer Specialist. The team will support program participants in the community to fulfill the potential that they can live stable, happy and healthy lives. Through the application of evidence-based models of care, the team will be committed to aiding program participants in making progress toward clinical stability, stable housing, social connectivity, sobriety, and other goals that improve their lives.

The Substance Use Specialist’s role will involve participation in community outreach to engage referred members. During the initial contact, an immediate needs assessment will be completed to identify the client’s most pressing needs and to identify the domains that are most important to the client. Together with all members of the team, the Substance Use Specialist will prepare a written plan to prioritize the client’s immediate needs.

The Substance Use Specialist will also participate in in-depth comprehensive assessments with a focus on substance abuse assessment and diagnosis using standardized screening tools (e.g. SBIRT, AUDIT, DAST). In addition to providing routine team duties in implementing the care plan, the Substance Use Specialist will take lead responsibility in developing/implementing plans for addressing substance use by integrating dual-recovery treatment and harm reduction.

The Substance Use Specialist will use motivational interviewing strategies and apply stage-wise treatment to foster an exploration of the client’s substance use and the impact that it is having on their life in an attempt to resolve ambivalence and promote a progression to action.

The role will require field-based work, periodic on call coverage, and a willingness to work flexible hours. On the job training will be provided around ACT CORE Training, CBT, Advanced Motivational Interviewing, IDDT, Contingency Management, and CTI and regular learning collaboratives will be available to enhance the professional development.

• Develops rapport with clients in order to engage them in improving their health and wellness.
• Administers standardized health and psychosocial risk screenings according to program protocols and time frames.
• Administers standardized substance abuse assessment screening tools including SBIRT, AUDIT, and DAST and integrates dual-recovery treatment and harm reduction strategies
• Utilizes health screenings to identify interventions and develop a comprehensive care plan
• Collaborates with members of the care team to identify needs and develop a plan to help client achieve optimal health outcomes.
• Develops WRAP and Relapse Prevention Plans to help clients understand their patterns and triggers for use and identify interventions to deal with triggers and cravings and identify supports.
• Utilizes Contingency Management to identify behavioral objections and issues rewards as objectives are achieved.
• Implements tasks outlined on the care plan and ensures follow up and continuity of care between client interactions.
• Regularly reviews and updates the care plan to correspond with services being provided.
• Documents all interventions and attempted contacts in the EHR in accordance with program standards.
• Works in collaboration with care…