SUD Counselor

Job Description

About the Company:

NAMI San Diego & Imperial Counties (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by mental illnesses. They provide free education, support services, and advocacy.

Job Description:

The SUD Counselor position is part of the “Next Steps” integrated care program, which is funded by San Diego County. The program focuses on addressing the comprehensive needs of participants, including their physical and mental health, substance use, and social service needs (food, shelter, transportation, etc.). The team provides support and resource information at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital (SDCPH) and its Emergency Unit to promote successful recovery and community reentry. The team consists of Peer Support Specialists, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselors and Behavioral Health Clinicians, most of whom have lived experience with serious mental illness, substance use or a co-occurring disorder or have a family with lived experience. Staff offer services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Providing brief ASAM screenings to clients referred from the hospital.
• Orienting clients to the Next Steps program and the concept of recovery.
• Developing and implementing crisis and recovery plans.
• Providing brief individual and group recovery services, information, education, and linking clients to community resources and recovery options.
• Delivering a variety of interventions, including brief individual counseling, crisis intervention, collateral services, and other recovery-related services.
• Establishing trusting relationships and collaborating with clients, family members, and/or significant others to facilitate client’s recovery.
• Providing education to clients and their significant others regarding substance misuse.
• Participating in treatment team meetings as needed.
• Preparing and implementing discharge plans.
• Integrating recovery concepts with sound theoretical and practical applications of brief rehabilitative and individual, group, and milieu counseling principles.
• Accurately documenting patient progress and every interaction correctly on forms and into computerized record system in a timely manner.
• Complying with all NAMI SD/IC and program rules, policies and procedures, including HIPAA requirements, to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Delivering short-term support and crisis services as needed.
• Providing messages of hope and recovery to clients, family members, and significant others.
• Establishing and maintaining supportive relationships with patients and their families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Possess a state-approved SUD certification or registration through CAADE or CCAPP upon hire and maintain active certification while employed.
• AA degree preferred.
• Preference for individuals who self-identify as a peer or family member of a peer.
• Knowledge of San Diego County’s behavioral health and social services.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in community mental health and the peer recovery model preferred.
• Ability to work with minimal direction and supervision.
• Comfortable working in a psychiatric hospital-based behavioral health service setting.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to set priorities and react appropriately to emergency situations.
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, email, web navigation).
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required (typically Sunday-Thursday or Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
• Willing and able to drive a personal car for work purposes and transport clients as appropriate.
• Valid California driver’s license and comprehensive automobile insurance.
• Satisfactory driving record.
• Must not be debarred or excluded from participation in Federal programs.
• Clear TB Test.
• Added plus: Bilingual and bicultural in Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Tagalog or other Asian language.