SUD Counselor (On-Call)

HealthRIGHT 360 gives hope, builds health, and changes lives for people in need by providing comprehensive, integrated, compassionate care that includes primary medical care, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment.

Job Overview

This is a union position.

This Behavioral Health Program of HealthRIGHT 360 was founded in 1966 to provide substance use disorder services in the community. It provides a gender-responsive and trauma-informed environment, using evidence-based and best practices that recognize and account for the role that trauma frequently plays in substance use and criminal histories of women. For clients with co-occurring mental illness, we provide integrated substance use and mental health services which treat both conditions as primary.

The 24/7/365 residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program provides 3.1, 3.3, and 3.5 ASAM levels of care for males and females, as well as 3.2 withdrawal management.  There are 15 beds allocated for 3.1/3.5, 15 beds for 3.3 and 12 beds for 3.2, for a total of 42 beds.

The SUD Counselor, On Call, is a registered or certified substance use disorder professional who maintains registration/certification from an approved/accredited California agency. The Counselor works in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure best possible treatment outcome for the client and provide treatment in accordance with HealthRIGHT 360’s philosophy, where program schedule requires additional staff.  The SUD Counselor provides supervision and oversite of the clients throughout the facility with shifts ranging to provide 24/7 coverage. Counselors provide facility coverage by supervising the clients during chores, visiting hours, mealtimes, medication line, withdrawal management, activities, groups, and free time. The SUD Counselor is customer service focused and frequently provides crisis intervention and client stabilization. The SUD Counselor has a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to stay calm under pressure.   

Key Responsibilities

Direct Service Responsibilities: 

• Maintains a high degree of self-awareness and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Assists clients with intake, assessment, and orientation to program upon admission.
• Utilizes trauma informed care while applying crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, and supervision of the clients. 
• Completes facility rounds on a regular basis in order to maintain supervision of the clients and facility. 
• Seeks clinical consultation when encountering new and/or high risk clinical circumstance.
• Provides facility coverage by supervising the clients during: chores, visiting hours, meal times, medication line, withdrawal management, donations, groups, and free time.
• Monitors visiting hours and addresses safety concerns.
• Works collaboratively with other members of the treatment team and communicates any behavioral concerns to the client’s Case Manager, Clinical Therapist, Medical, and Psychiatrist.
• Maintains frequent communication with the treatment team and engages in regular consults, clinical.
• May complete detox rounds and behavioral support rounds at 30 minute intervals as assigned.
• May monitor medication line as needed or assigned.  

Clinical Documentation Responsibilities: 

• Write and complete all progress notes within 72 hours of service delivery.  
• Maintains compliance with due dates for all clinical documentation.
• Documentation must maintain in compliance with agency policy and procedures, HIPAA, 42-CFR, DMH, and SAPC standards.
• Documents all client UA’s using the UA form and a progress note. 
• Completes same day incident reports. 
• Documents detox rounds and behavioral support rounds every 30 minutes as assigned.  

Training, Supervision and Quality Improvement Responsibilities: 

• Maintains full compliance with CCAPP or CADTP requirements for registration and certification. 
• Actively participates in agency and team meetings.
• Participates in training opportunities and pursues training in Evidence Based Practices.
• Communicates collaboratively with all members of the behavioral health team including: medical, mental health, psychiatry, substance use disorder, and other staff. 
• Completes all assigned trainings and Relias trainings in a timely manner.  

Professionalism and Other Duties Responsibilities: 

• Arrange work schedule in accordance with the agency’s needs. 
• Responds to Lead Counselor Is coordination of facility needs. 
• Attend regular staff meetings and other meetings as assigned.
• Reads emails daily and responds when appropriate.  
• Assists with checking clients in and ensures unsafe items are not brought into the facility. 
• Transports clients as needed. 
• Conducts random and planned room searches.  
• Completes random and scheduled client UA tests and documents test results. 
• And, other duties as assigned. 

Education and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Education Requirements:

• Registration or Certification as Substance Abuse Counselor from an approved/accredited California agency. 

Experience:

• Preferably a minimum of two years’ experience in the human service field and demonstrated expertise in substance abuse treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery. 
• Experience working with clients experiencing acute withdrawal from substances.
• Knowledge of and experience with providing trauma informed services. 
• Experience delivering evidence-based practices.

Background Clearance Required:

• CDCR fingerprint clearance.
• Must not be on parole or probation for a minimum of two years.

Knowledge Required:

• Knowledge issues of related to substance abuse, mental health, and criminal background.
• Culturally competent and able to work with a diverse population.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word Outlook and internet applications.

Skills and Abilities Required:

• Professionalism, punctuality, flexibility and reliability are imperative.
• Strong computer skills, including Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Action oriented.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multitask and juggle multiple priorities.
• Outstanding ability to follow-through with tasks.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively as part of interdisciplinary team and independently assume responsibility.
• Strong initiative and enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in whenever needed.
• Able to communicate well at all levels of the organization including working with organization leadership and high-level representatives of partner organizations.
• Able to work within a frequently changing project scope while maintaining overall direction and structured priorities.

Desired:

• Bilingual.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

In compliance with the California Department of Public Health's mandate, all employees must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Medical and religious exemptions are available.