Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor - Family Residences and Essential Enterprises

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY

The CASAC is responsible for providing direct clinical care services and substance use disorder counseling, including: Diagnostic Assessment, Evaluation, Intervention, Referral, and Substance Use Disorder counseling in both individual and group settings. The CASAC will be an integral part of the interdisciplinary team servicing individuals at the program with substance use and co-occurring disorders. CASAC will conduct face-to-face meetings with the individual and any other identified parties in the plan to provide and document services. The position may require provision of services in the community and outside of normal business hours (program dependent).

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Facilitates multiple individual and group substance use recovery meetings that target mental health population in substance use recovery per week.
• Assesses the daily living skills of each individual and provides education and training necessary to increase their independence and promote individuals’ self-confidence and the ability to live independently.
• Assists individuals in establishing and strengthening engagement with the supports identified in their screening and service planning.
• Helps individuals to take charge of their own recovery and empowerment to achieve life goals by assisting with the development of a Relapse Prevention/Safety Plan.
• Assists individuals in ensuring that a well-integrated plan to their immediate issues as well as long range plan for recovery is established.
• Links individuals to services to access ongoing psychiatric and physical health wellness, as well as, referrals to permanent housing including COC and/or OMH housing options and completion and submission of SPA applications; and referral to emergency or temporary housing as needed.
• Supports individuals in managing medications by providing supervision and monitoring to ensure proper administration of medication, and medication management training.
• Collaborates with individuals, internal and external providers to give individuals access and linkage to community-based resources such as mental health clinics, substance abuse recovery meeting and other support as necessary.
• Works with clients to improve life choices and maximize benefits of the program.
• Collaboratively develops individualized recovery/support plans and monthly updates for each individual.
• Identifies and assesses clients at risk and provides crisis intervention for individuals as needed.
• Offers extensive support addressing stress and symptom management as well as proper support utilization (in crisis program).
• Available 24/7 to provide support and crisis intervention as needed (in crisis program).
• Participates in weekly case review meetings with internal and external providers as well as natural supports to comprehensively review the progress of each person served (in crisis program).
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education:
  • High School Diploma or equivalent required; college degree preferred
• Experience:
  • Experience working with substance use population is strongly preferred
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
  • CASAC credentialing required
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
  • Ability to utilize the 12 step, self-help recovery services, harm reduction, motivational interviewing and other models/approaches
  • Demonstrates organizational and communication skills which would enable effective interaction with all valued stakeholders
  • Critical thinking and sound judgment skills are necessary
  • Experience with serving forensic population and working within legal systems preferred
  • Knowledge of community-based services for referral and collateral coordination preferred
  • Comprehensive knowledge of community resources for addiction treatment preferred
  • Computer literacy
• Other Requirements:
  • Displays sensitivity to cultural and linguistical needs of individuals served

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is performed in-person.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee might be required to bend, lift and/or more light items.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.

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The Pay Range for this job is $24.50 - $25.98. This range is based on what FREE reasonably believes it will pay an employee as for said position at the time of the posting. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors, including, but not limited to, an individual’s experience, qualifications, services provided, geographic location, relevant skills, and other factors permitted under federal, state, and local laws.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

This job description has been approved by all levels of management.