SUD Counselor (SUDP​/SUDPT

Description

Saturday, Sunday

Day

• Dental
• Life
• Long-term Disability
• Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off (34 days per year)
• Retirement Plan

This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

The SUDP/SUDPT works collaboratively with agency staff & community resources to provide a range of services to clients with substance use disorders (SUD) using a harm reduction approach. Recovery goals and treatment length are defined by the client, not the program. Many clients have a sustained and/or complicated substance use history in addition to co-occurring mental health and physical disorders. Often people suffering from mental health issues, complex trauma, and health issues who lack access to proper treatment attempt to self-medicate with substances to lessen the symptoms.

The ability to provide highly integrated services to people with concurrent mental health, substance use, and physical diagnoses are crucial components of our care. At DESC, our network of clinical services allows SUDPs/SUDPTs to work in coordination with care teams in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Care team members often include peers, mental health case managers, clinical support specialists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses and supportive employment staff.

• Perform substance use disorder assessments, intake evaluations, individual and group therapy, create Individual Service Plans (ISP) with clients, care coordination within and outside of DESC.
• Participate in weekly supervision (with direct supervisor) and team meetings. SUDPTs will participate in a weekly SUDPT learning academy.
• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and present clients needing extra support during weekly psychiatric consultation.
• Coordinate care conferences with entire care teams when issues are initially identified by the SUDP/SUDPT.
• Participate (if needed) in monthly Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) meetings.