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NOTE: All applicants must comply with ICL”s vaccination policy.  Individuals selected for employment cannot begin working until they  provide verification that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with an FDA-authorized vaccine).

JOB SUMMARY:

The Substance Abuse Counselor assists residents with understanding and managing substance abuse.

ESSENTIAL TASKS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.

1. Conduct or review assessment information to determine the substance abuse needs and preferences of persons served;
2. Provide individual counseling or conduct groups that address substance abuse issues as they relate to getting and keeping a job and permanent housing;
3. Serve as a liaison to TORCH or other similar programs to continue any substance abuse-related plans and processes while persons served are in the residence;
4. Develop and maintain working relationships with alcohol and substance abuse detoxification, rehabilitation, and treatment centers.
5. Ensure that residents have any necessary transportation and escort to substance abuse appointments and participation.
6. Provide motivational interviewing to residents as needed.
7. Provide group and individual harm reduction counseling.
8. Provide cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention techniques.
9. Guide the use of onsite drug testing for residents whose service plans incorporate it.
10. For residents with mental illness and substance abuse disorders, lay the groundwork for the implementation of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, an evidence-based practice, upon discharge.
11. Promote a smoke-free environment at Transitional Veterans Residence.
12. Monitor the availability and status of Naloxone kits, providing education to staff as to the location of the kits and ensuring that the kits are not expired.
13. Collaborate with the peer counselors and use linkages already developed in Brooklyn and Queens with Buprenorphine and Methadone programs and seek to expand these to other locations as needed.
14. Assist in the orientation of new personnel when requested.
15. Maintain up-to-date, accurate individual paper and electronic case records on each assigned resident.
16. Comply with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.
17. Attend regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities.
18. Review the staff communications log and make entries concerning essential elements of information designated by program management.
19. Execute emergency plans as outlined in the policy and procedure manual; administers CPR or first aid to staff or residents who require such services.
20. Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.
21. Obtain and maintain certification as an OD Responder from NYS Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (NYSOOPP) staff.
22. Participate in management and supervision meetings.
23. Participate in required trainings.
24. Immediately reports serious incidents, allegations of abuse, incidents, or sensitive situations and completes incident reports in accordance with agency policy.
25. Comply and promote compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and agency policies helping to strengthen and maintain an ethical organizational culture.
26. May have on-call responsibilities.
27. Perform other job-related duties that may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Basic knowledge of the causes and processes of substance abuse disorder.
• Effective problem-solving skills
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with diverse individuals
• Ability to create and compose written materials
• Ability to effectively and efficiently respond to questions from persons served
• Ability to facilitate a meeting
• Ability to present information to persons served and other employees
• Ability to work with residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences
• Ability to serve as a role model to residents including modeling appropriate interpersonal interactions, appearance, demeanor
• Ability to effectively use computer software
• Willingness to continually learn and apply knowledge and willingness to participate in in-service training and development activities.
• Ability to function as an effective team member, including performing share of work, cooperating with coworkers,  and securing cooperation, and maintaining professional relationships and boundaries  with co-workers, supervisors and residents
• Ability to use sound judgment in identifying and solving problems, and knowing when to seek assistance.
• Ability to learn, understand and comply with all regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize time effectively to accomplish all tasks in a timely way and meet deadlines without prompting.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a case management plan, meeting all deadlines and productivity standards
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to be empathic, actively looking for ways to help people, to be compassionate and hopeful and to believe and help others work toward recovery.
• Ability to engage in active listening—attending to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
• Ability to identify the nature of problems and to participate effectively in solving problems.

 MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Current CASAC plus at least 3 years experience providing direct services to people with alcohol and/or drug related disorders.  Equivalent training and experience will be considered.  Veteran preferred

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