Job Summary

Substance Abuse Counselor is responsible for the provision of substance abuse counseling services on the Acute Substance Abuse Unit under the Director of Substance Abuse Counseling.

Essential Functions

• Each substance abuse counselor shall be either an LCADC or CADC or another licensed health professional doing work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within their scope of practice.

• A CADC must work under the supervision of an LCADC or another New Jersey licensed clinical professional designated as a qualified clinical supervisor per N.J.A.C. 13:34C-6.2.
• A CADC cannot diagnose substance abuse.

• Substance abuse counseling staff without an LCADC or CADC status or who do not possess another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice shall function as alcohol and drug counselor-interns or credential- interns and shall:

• Be enrolled in a course of study leading to a CADC or LCADC, or another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice, without regard to changes in employment, with progress towards certification or licensing on file, reviewed by the facility at least semi-annually and documented.
• Be trained, evaluated and receive continuing formal clinical supervision by the director of substance abuse counseling or designee, pursuant to the clinical supervision rules of the State health professional licensing board for the course of study in which they are enrolled:

• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners for licensed marriage and family therapists.
• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners' Professional Counselor Examiners Committee for licensed professional counselors and licensed associate counselors.
• The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee for LCADCs and CADCs.
• The State Board of Psychological Examiners for licensed psychologists.
• The State Board of Social Work Examiners for licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers.
• Each substance abuse counselor shall be responsible for the following:

• Assessing the counseling needs of the clients.
• Assessing clients using the ASI or using other standardized assessment tool and for adolescents using the CASI or using other evidence-based validated assessment tool and diagnosing clients for substance disorders using the DSM-IV-TR.
• Determining the appropriate level of care based on ASAM PPC-2R.
• Obtaining previous records that are relevant to the current treatment episode.
• Collaborating with the client to develop a written treatment plan that is client-centered and recovery oriented and includes goals and measurable objectives.
• Providing the substance abuse counseling services specified in the client treatment plan.
• Reviewing clients throughout the treatment episode according to ASAM PPC-2R, to determine the need for continued services or discharge/transfer.
• Reviewing and, where necessary, revising the substance abuse counseling portion of the client treatment plan to address emerging problems.
• Developing the client discharge/transfer plans to ensure movement to the appropriate levels of care.
• Contacting referral sources, providing case consultation and coordination with referral sources (for example: mental health treatment providers, criminal justice agencies, schools, employers, the Division of Youth and Family Services).
• Participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team for assigned clients.
• Providing active case consultation.
• Documenting all counseling and education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals and follow-up in the client's clinical record, providing appropriate signatures and dating of such entries, including those made in electronic records.

GENERAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education

LCADC is required to have a master’s degree in a counseling related field. Counselor Intern is required to be enrolled in a course of study leading to a CADC or LCADC. CADC or LCADC Preferred

Minimum Work Experience

2 years of experience in addiction services or be enrolled in a course of study leading to a CADC or LCADC.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Exempt full-time regular business hours 37.5-hour work week and must provide on-call coverage as assigned.

Physical Demands Analysis:

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and evaluate information presented in research reports, professional publications, referral documents and similar materials.
• Ability to write clearly and cohesively and to present information effectively both orally and in writing.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions from a wide variety of data and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to climb stairs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit; stand, walk, stoop, or kneel.
• Employee may occasionally lift to 20 pounds or assist in lifting patients in emergencies.
• May work at keyboard intermittently throughout the day.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.