Job Detail

Looking for the right compassionate, ethical SUD Counselor with a passion for our mission to join Straight Talk’s amazing team!

The Gerry House program is a collaboration between Straight Talk Clinic and the Orange County Health Agency Drug MediCal services. This program addresses substance abuse, trauma, and relapse prevention, focusing on SUD education, and residential treatment services, including group counseling services, case management, and discharge planning.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordination with LPHA to establish medical necessity for clients based on the DSM-5 and ASAM assessment documenting the basis for medical need and supporting documentation.
• Safe call communication with loved ones within 24 hours of intake (as allowed via client consents).
• Develop and maintain Treatment Plans, Problem list, progress notes, and other Drug Medi-Cal required documentation with support from LPHA as needed.
• Provide accurate documentation of participants' participation and progress during treatment in accordance with all regulatory agency standards.
• Maintain participant records according to HIPAA and 42 CFR, adheres to all participant confidentiality requirements and standards.
• Responsible for all treatment services being provided in an ethical and legal manner.
• Maintain a caseload of 4-6 clients providing individual SUD Counseling and Care Coordination within approved scope of practice.
• Provide Assessment of client needs and follow up to ensure vocational and legal needs are being met (organize and facilitate FMLA, disability, social security, progress letter paperwork, etc.)
• Provide and document daily progress notes and weekly individual care management sessions to improve client adherence to treatment plan goals. This includes contacting providers and collecting medical records upon admission into treatment as well as overseeing client connection and appointments with post-treatment providers and services.
• Provide and document weekly sessions with clients that address recovery stability, adhering to the prescribed treatment, legal, behavior intervention, coordination of care, and discharge planning.
• Address aftercare issues related to ongoing treatment needs, MAT, transitional housing, employment, transportation, support groups, community resources, healthcare appointments, and other support services while documenting and billing these approved services.
• Maintain and document the updates to the treatment plan and complete all reassessments per medical necessity. Communicate required consultation with the LPHA including the provision of ongoing professional coordination with the family, legal, and monitoring programs, as needed.
• Participate in all staff meetings, supervisory meetings, in-service training or other educational activities required by supervising program staff.
• Responsible for upkeep of personal professional certification and CEUs as required by state boards without lapse, holds, suspensions, or investigation.
• Advocate with approved third parties with a release of information on behalf of client, including letters to referral agencies, courts/probation.
• Communicate with concurrent methadone counselors, case managers, legal agencies and social service agencies concerning client treatment.
• To interact with court and probation if needed. May assist clients with getting to court, probation, or other required outside agencies.
• Maintain appropriate records such as ongoing progress notes, reports to referring agencies, discharge summaries, discharge recovery plan, and clinical case records as required by external stakeholders.
• Identify, evaluate, and address situations that may be potentially harmful to clients and report any client or safety concerns to the LPHA, and Program Director.
• Perform intakes if needed, assessments, identifies problems, treatment planning, recording progress notes; as well as completing discharge planning.
• Coordinate warm hand-offs for client discharging and transferring clients.
• Ensure that quality, evidence-based, cutting edge services are always provided to participants including maintenance of quality clinical records. Complete all required documentation accurately and thoroughly according to set timeframes.
• Knowledge of drug and alcohol dependency, mental health, family systems and 12 step/recovery resources in the community.
• Monitor and evaluate participants' progress and recommend transition competitions, additional services, special consideration, and general compliance.
• Lead or Facilitate life skills and recovery groups as assigned. Individual, group, family, couples counseling and crisis intervention, include leading psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational, and health education.
• Evaluate clients for compliance, motivation, behavioral difficulties, health or other characteristics affecting treatment progress or program functioning.
• Address all protocol violations, accidents, hazardous situations, damages and/or significant incidents and reports them immediately to supervisory staff.
• Maintain staff logs, daily notes, client charts and other documentation system requirements promptly and accurately.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Sciences such as Human Services, Social Work, Psychology or another related field from an accredited University preferred.
• Minimum of AOD/SUD Certification from any Certifying Organization required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a behavioral healthcare field and/or substance abuse recovery field.
• Experience in behavioral health treatment including, but not limited to, group facilitation, behavior intervention, community liaison, as well as case management for individuals diagnosed with substance use and/or mental health disorder.
• Knowledge of utilizing electronic health record software and documentation.
• Knowledge of ASAM criteria.
• Ability to read, write and interpret written information, type documentation, present information to groups and participate in meetings.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Cloud
• Ability to provide supervision, guidance counseling to adult clients, maintain case management procedures, and participate in program and client activities and operations.
• Ability to get to work on time.
• Ability to accept constructive feedback.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; effectively interact with coworkers.
• Ability to work under stress, with interruptions and deadlines.
• Ability to think logically in following procedures and complex instructions.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $22.89 - $27.71 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Experience:

• behavioral healthcare or substance abuse recovery field: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• AOD/ SUD Certification from any Certifying Organization (Required)

Work Location: One location