Community Adult Substance Abuse Counselor I

Job Purpose & Position Overview 

This position is responsible for the technical supervision support for the Alcohol Outpatient Services component and Chee-Woy-Na-Zhee Halfway House. The Incumbent provides treatment and manages individual and group therapy for clients with a primary diagnosis of chemical dependency who may have a variety of other medical, psychosocial and environmental problems. Will be responsible for the planning, evaluating, education and preventive care in the substance abuse outpatient/halfway house components. 

Specific Job Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Must be familiar with the AIHRC program organization, philosophy, function, responsibilities and policies.
• Carries an active client caseload and applies therapeutic strategies that will motivate and redirect the behavior of chemically dependent individuals. This includes intake and assessment; treatment planning; treatment; progress reviews discharge; and follow-up.
• Provides leadership to other members of the treatment team and is responsible for coordinating and conducting therapeutic activities.
• Provides lectures on a wide variety of topics related to substance abuse treatment.
• Provides therapeutic activities (individual, group, family and marital therapy) independently addressing complex issues regarding patient care and resolving conflict/problems.
• Provides educational services and lectures to the Halfway House clients on a variety of topics related to alcohol/drug problems and treatment.
• Assists in the implementation of the Quality Assurance Plan by conducting client record reviews, coordinating patient treatment plan reviews, insuring that client follow-up reports are completed in a timely and efficient manner. Reporting all findings and statistical reports to the Clinical Supervisor.
• Will provide training and knowledge from counseling experience to Provisional Counselors.
• Conduct Bio-psycho-social spiritual assessments for treatment planning and determine the need for further psychological/psychiatric testing and evaluation.  
• Develops comprehensive treatment plans based on individual needs to include specific goals and objectives that specify clients’ strengths/weaknesses and addresses the problems identified in the assessment. Treatment plans to have time frames for completion and anticipated outcomes.
• Documents all aspects of client care including observations, treatments provided and client responses to treatment and other treatment recommendations.
• Develop comprehensive aftercare plans with specific recommendations that will facilitate the on-going process of recovery and address the comprehensive needs of the clients.
• Participate in medical rounds with the medical staff in Clinical Supervisors absence.
• Monitor record keeping procedures to ensure full compliance with Federal rules and regulations governing client confidentiality. (42CFR)
• Complete timely and efficient documentation of client care that is in full compliance with Indian Health Service, JCAHO and Nebraska State Standards of Care.
• Supervise personnel engaged in providing alcohol and drug abuse counseling to the youth and adult segments of the community and sign off on all clinical documents.
• Work closely with School Administration, Tribal Court, Social Services and other referral agencies to establish total client care.
• Develops working relationships with inpatient treatment facilities and detox centers and be knowledgeable of their application and intake procedures.
• Responsible for submitting monthly reports of activities for program, State and Federal compliance purposes.
• Accurately completes AIHRC clinical records recording system and State of Nebraska forms on each client assigned.
• Administer computer generated assessment tools, i.e. ASI, SASSI, and PEI, conducting chemical involvement problem severity and psychosocial evaluations for individuals referred to the program. 

Qualifications/Skills: 

• Must be a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor or a Certified Provisional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor and working towards becoming a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years sobriety and abstain from alcohol/drugs while employed in this position.  A pre-employment drug test will be required.
• Professional knowledge of established counseling concepts, principles, practices, methods and techniques necessary to administer a bio-psychosocial and spiritual treatment approach.
• Must have working knowledge and understanding of principles of 12 step self-help groups; ie, Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Al-anon.
• Must be knowledgeable of the disease concept of substance abuse and possess a thorough understanding of substance abuse as it pertains to Native Americans.
• A Valid Driver’s License is preferred, but not necessary.  
• Must be able to maintain the strictest confidentiality regarding clients and program records.
• Must possess good verbal and written skills and be able to communicate ideas and concepts adequately.
• Must be able to exercise independent judgment and initiative and have the ability to delegate and motivate.
• Be willing to work evenings and weekends when requested.
• Must be a team player and have a positive attitude. 

Public Health Core Competencies for this Position  

Public Health Sciences 

• Describes the scientific foundation of the field of public health.  

Analysis and Assessment 

• Apply ethical data principles.  

Leadership and Systems Thinking  

• Contributes to continuous improvement of individual, program and organizational performance.  
• Participate in and/or provides opportunities for professional development opportunities.  
• Contributes to continuous improvement of individual, program and organizational performance.  

Communication and Cultural Competency 

• Communicate the roles of governmental public health and public health stakeholders as well as information to influence behavior and improve public health. 
• Gather input from and facilitate communication among individuals, groups, organizations and local government to improve community health.  

Financial Planning and Management  

• Establishes teams for the purpose of achieving program and organizational goals.  
• Motivates personnel for the purpose of achieving program and organization goals.  

Training Requirements: 

• N/A 

Physical Requirements:   

• Normal to light office work which includes the ability to lift up to 10 lbs. 
• Regularly required to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time and use hands to operate computer keyboard, phone, and various office equipment.  

Cognitive Requirements:  

• Reading, writing, calculating 
• Above average social interaction skills 
• Reasoning/Analysis 
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team  
• Works with minimal to no supervision  

Language Requirements:   

• Must possess the ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently. 
• Must be able to continually and effectively employ professional verbal and written communications skills.  

Certificates, Licenses & Registrations: 

• All applicants will comply with 45 CFR 1301, Subpart D, Section 1301.31, C and D, which require all prospective employees to sign a declaration prior to employment regarding all arrests and convictions of child abuse or violent felonies and to comply with PL 101-630 and PL 101-637 regarding criminal records check. 

Please note the position description duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.