Substance abuse/AOD Counselor

Description

  

JOB TITLE: Substance abuse/AOD Counselor

DEPARTMENT: First Chance Sobering Station & Residential Detox Program

REPORTS TO:  Program Manager

POSITION STATUS: Non-Exempt- Full-time- 40hrs per week

SALARY: $24-$26 per hour

DESCRIPTION:

StarVista is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has helped people of all ages throughout San Mateo County navigate life challenges for over 55 years. Our mental health, crisis intervention, youth housing, substance use, and early childhood services help thousands of individuals each year. StarVista’s services are rooted in strength-based, holistic practices and center diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure anyone who comes to StarVista can access support. StarVista’s values of respect, passion, partnerships, accountability, innovation and integrity foster an agency culture of support and growth.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

StarVista First Chance Sobering Station and Detox Program will utilize the Seeking Safety treatment model focused on trauma-informed client treatment of clients presenting with addiction and mental health disorders. The Model organizes our treatment and client interventions. Seeking Safety is an inclusive model because it is a way of guiding leaders, staff, clients, and families to share the same language. Clinical staff members assist clients in their recovery from substance use and co-occurring disorders through counseling, education, role modeling, and empathetic trauma-informed support using the Seeking Safety framework.

POSITION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

Provides supportive supervision, counseling education and referral services for individuals at both the First Chance Sobering Station and First Chance South Detox. Provides ethically appropriate, theoretically sound, culturally informed, and holistic interventions to address client issues.

Requirements

  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Attend FC staff meetings and trainings as well as other meetings as assigned by Program Manager.
• Conduct intake interviews with all clients brought to the facility. Follow all program guidelines in accepting and orienting a client.
• Provide supportive supervision while clients are in the facility. Check on each client in an unobtrusive manner as assigned. Accommodate client needs for nourishment when appropriate and assure client’s comfort while in the facility. Wash client clothing when needed and offer donated clothing and other articles.
• Follow all program guidelines in the event a client “walks away”, is disruptive and unruly, or is in need of medical attention.
• Maintain confidential records and case notes documenting interventions with clients. Maintain all confidentiality laws and regulations with regards to HIPAA standards.
• Prepare incident reports before the end of the shift for review by the Program Manager.
• Notify Program Manager or Department Director (in the absence of the Program Manager) in case of an emergency or a situation requiring urgent consultation and/or supervisory assistance. Call the agency CEO if the Program Manager and Department Director are unavailable for any reason.
• Follow all program guidelines in exiting a client from the facility. Request exit interviews and consent to call back from all clients. Conduct exit interviews with clients who consent.
• Obtain written permission to call clients for follow up when the client is amenable.
• Provide referral packets, information and assist clients with needed transportation, information, phone numbers and other issues related to their stay at First Chance.
• Assist clients interested in ongoing treatment services to obtain appropriate program referrals whenever possible. Provide phone numbers and addresses, contact information and phone calls to establish linkages to needed services.
• Make appropriate referrals to additional resources when needed including but not limited to mental health counseling, family counseling, housing services and other social or medical services.
• Complete all required client paperwork and program documentation. Accurately enter appropriate information thoroughly into the computer.
• Read and initial all incoming memos. Direct questions to the Program Manager.
• Assist officers and other referral sources in understanding the First Chance Program as needed. Refer questions to the Program Manager or Department Director when appropriate.
• Conduct a thorough walk through of the facility at the beginning of your shift, noting cleaning that needs to be done and any maintenance issues that need to be brought to the Program manager’s attention. Notify the Program Manager of maintenance or