Summary:
The primary responsibilities of the Community Support Team Substance Use Counselor are to assist and support individuals who are served in the development of skills, behaviors, responsibilities, and supports needed to live, learn, work and be integrated into the community with the greatest possible degree of self-determination and independence.
Job Description:
1. Provide service coordination for individual with mental health and substance abuse issues and is responsible for developing, with the other team members, the overall service plan.
2. Provide education and training on mental illness, SUDS, relapse identification, preventions and the promotion of recovery.
3. Implement interventions that are evidence-based practices demonstrating effectiveness working with individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
4. Implement harm reduction practices, and programs that address the adverse effects of drug use including overdose, HIV, hepatitis C, addiction, and incarceration.
5. Provide symptom monitoring of mental health and SUD symptoms, which interfere with the individual’s daily living; assisting the beneficiary to identify and minimize their symptoms and potentially harmful behaviors.
6. Complete appropriate assessments including assessment of current and historical substance use and identify appropriate levels of treatment to make referrals to other services as necessary.
7. Assist in the development of natural support networks. Individual and group supportive counseling, monitoring of symptoms and medications, linking the individual supported to the appropriate services, agencies and supports in the community, monitoring their development of appropriate behaviors in his/her home and other community settings, teaching the individual supported skills necessary for independent community living and facilitating them in the practice and transfer of these skills to his/her environment, providing support to his/her family.
8. Facilitate access to community resources, including locating recreational activities, housing, food, clothing, school programs, vocational opportunities or services, other providers needed for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services; assist individual receiving services to develop relationships within their community.
9. Monitor utilization of services and ensure agency provides services consistent with authorization for each individual supported. Prepare reports for team leader in order to clearly communicate progress or lack of progress, and involvement in treatment to aid the team leader in the authorization process.
10. Maintain positive working relationships within the communities served, including with individuals, families, team members, other staff, monitoring and licensing agencies, organizations, and funders.
11. Drive and travel extensively to community locations, various agencies, and other outreach destinations. Provide and/or arrange for transportation for people supported as required.
12. Assume responsibility for writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising Person Centered Plan and overall treatment goals and service plans that are based on evaluations and recommendations from assessments by various professionals and input from the individual supported.
13. Facilitate training of independent living skills, establish access to community services and agencies, assist individuals in establishing support networks in the community and assess individual needs on a daily basis.
14. Coordinate services with the program, staff, inpatient facilities, and detoxification facilities and establish linkage to residential programs, self-help programs and community resources.
15. Review treatment progress and monitor and provide continuous consultation with other staff and community agencies to ensure the consistent therapeutic management of the individual’s needs.
16. Ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status which may put individual at risk.
17. Documents participant activities consistent with the service records manual. Write an event note that reflects participant activities, goals, interventions, and outcomes.
18. Provides psychoeducation as indicated in the PCP.
19. Assists with crisis interventions.
20. Assists the Team Leader with behavioral and substance use disorder treatment interventions.
21. Assists with the development of relapse prevention and disease management strategies.
22. Coordinates the initial and ongoing assessment activities.
23. Develops the initial PCP and its ongoing revisions and ensures its implementation.
24. Consults with identified medical (i.e., primary care and psychiatric) and non-medical providers, engages community and natural supports, and includes their input in the person-centered planning process.
25. Ensures linkage to the most clinically appropriate and effective services including arranging for psychological and psychiatric evaluations.
26. Monitors and documents the status of the beneficiary’s progress and the effectiveness of the strategies and interventions outlined in the PCP.
27. Completes functional needs assessment(s) to determine the scope and anticipated outcomes to the services.
28. Provide crisis intervention/on-call/after hours services as needed.
29. Attend and actively participate in meetings and training as required. Maintain certification in all agency, state and federal training requirements.
30.. Demonstrate knowledge of and comply with all agency policies and procedures, as well as state and federal statutes and regulations related to specific program areas.
31. Follow service definition guidelines for services being provided.
32. Complete all other relevant responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications:
1. Minimum of 2 years of experience in mental health counseling and other related fields such as substance use disorders.
2. Familiarity with community mental health resources.
3. Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
4. Ability to build rapport with clients.
Requirements:
1. Bachelor’s degree in a Human Service related field from an accredited university.
2. NC Driver’s license in good standing.
3. CSAC or CADC and or LCAS-A.
