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Job Profile Title 

Substance Use Counselor 1

Department 

The University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry is one of the largest behavioral health providers in the U.S. We offer diverse career opportunities across multiple divisions and clinical service campuses.

Position

We are seeking a Substance Use Counselor (CASAC) 1 to join our growing team. The Substance Use Counselor 1 provides counseling services, under direct supervision, as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team caring for alcoholics, addicts and drug abusing persons and their families. Works on specific treatment goals as designed with supervision.

Essential Functions 

• Performs intake evaluations by direct interview of persons applying for treatment. Assesses chemical use history, including type, quantity, frequency and pattern of use of licit, prescription, or illicit substances, including psychological, social, legal, medical, psychiatric, financial, vocational and educational consequences, and history of treatment efforts, including detoxification, rehabilitation, drug-free treatment, and chemotherapy programs.
• Assesses patients for symptoms of psychological dependence, motivation for change, personal resources. Gathers family historical data concerning drug and alcohol usage.
• Prepares oral and written clinical reports of interview data to be reviewed at multidisciplinary intake review and diagnostic conferences. Prepares and submits written and oral reports with supervision.
• Maintains productivity in accordance with programs and departmental standards and complies with program and departmental policies and procedures. 
• Establishes communication using established rules of confidentiality and laws concerning rights of patients and uses correspondence with other health-related agencies, employers, criminal justice programs and social service programs to assess reasons for referral or applicant's legal or social service status.
• Provides senior clinical staff with data for its incorporation into diagnostic team assessment of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the patients and their families.
• Carries out counseling of drug/alcohol abusing or addicted patients within the structure of a comprehensive treatment plan.
• Demonstrates listening skills, empathy, confrontation and supportive skills, ability to monitor patient compliance, participation and motivation.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate treatment team decision to patient and assess developments that require conference with other members of interdisciplinary team.
• Establishes long term counseling relationships with patients. Maintains active case records, including written treatment plans, problem-oriented progress notes, periodic updates of treatment plans, appropriate documentation of incidents, discharge summaries, interagency communications and correspondence.
• Demonstrates general working knowledge of psychological, social, spiritual, behavioral, vocational and physical effects of drug/alcohol use, including alcohol, opiates, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, compulsive drug-related behavior, peer group relationships among substance abusers, patterns of family interactions around drug/alcohol abuse.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the indications and limitations of various treatments for alcoholism and addiction, including drug-free treatment and the use of methadone or other medications for detoxification or maintenance.
• Shows understanding of the indications and limitations of bioassays for drugs, such as urine drug screens.
• Maintains a working knowledge of and the ability to work with local and regional services and agencies for alcoholic and drug abuser, including self-help spiritually oriented programs for patients and families, education, information and referral resources, inpatient detoxification, rehabilitation and therapeutic community programs, residential facilities, vocational counseling and employment agencies.  Assists and facilitates maintenance of group process.
• Maintains continuing education in knowledge and skills affecting the discipline of chemical dependency counseling, including attendance at in-service meetings.
• Reports to clinical supervisor regularly for supervision of all clinical activity.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to human services and 1 year of related experience required
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in drug/alcohol dependence treatment preferred

Licenses & Certifications 

CASAC Certification upon hire preferred

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