Primary Counselor – Right Side Up Women & Children’s Recovery Center and Tradition’s Recovery Center for Women

TITLE: RSU Primary Counselor

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: RSU Program Coordinator

QUALIFICATIONS: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, with the major course work in addiction studies, psychology, education, social work, health education, women’s studies, or related human service or behavioral or social services field or CACI of CACII. Additionally, two years of counseling experience with substance dependent women is required. A Bachelor’s degree combined with extensive experience may be substituted for Master’s level education.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Conduct individual counseling sessions with all clients on caseload weekly
  2. Conduct group sessions weekly according to the groups assigned to the position (typically 3-5 groups)
  3. Prepare for all assigned groups to ensure that the required content is covered and that any handouts or supplemental materials are made available to clients.
  4. Development of treatment plans that are responsive to needs identified in the assessment process and that are realistic, timely and measurable
  5. Development of treatment plan reviews that are timely and reflect the level of progress towards identified goals
  6. Responsible for facilitating all non-medical client appointments in a timely and efficient basis and in a manner that minimizes absences from the daily therapeutic schedule
  7. Case recording responsibilities that include: clear, concise, thorough and timely documentation of all client, collateral and community contacts, diagnostic summaries, treatment plans/reviews, progress notes, discharge summaries and related documentation
  8. Preparation for, and presentation of, caseload summaries before a multidisciplinary team and on an on-going basis throughout the treatment process
  9. Assures clients have applied for support services, ie. TANF, Food Stamps, Childcare and Medicaid within the first week eligible                              
  10. Attendance at weekly staff meetings, peer reviews, case reviews and all scheduled in-service training. 
  11. On-going positive and proactive communication (verbal and written) with co-workers as team members to ensure all relevant client, program or related information is passed along
  12. Reporting to the supervisor the required regulatory agency any abuse or neglect or other incidents that put clients, staff or the program in jeopardy
  13. Completion and submission of any management information system forms, including Substance Abuse tracking forms to DFACS, discharge summaries completed within 3 days of discharge and forwarded to MHMRIS staff person for closure
  14. On-going assessment and evaluation of clinical diagnosis, level of progress and reporting of same to ensure clinical needs are being met directly or through referral, indirectly
  15. Possible involvement on community planning teams, task forces etc.
  16. Utilization of a positive, caring and supportive therapeutic approach as well as communication style with clients
  17. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
  18. Ability to demonstrate fairness and flexibility as required to accommodate the emerging needs of clients as well as the needs of a developing program
  19. Compliance with policies and procedures.
  20. Perform other duties as assigned
  21. Appropriate use of annual and sick leave
  22. Professional Dress
  23. Work hours scheduled, arrive and leave on time. Make sure comp time is approved by supervisor prior to working additional hours.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

  1. Ability to provide effective individual and group counseling with substance dependent women, many of whom have been victims of domestic violence.
  2. Ability to perform the charting duties required by regulations that govern the program in a timely fashion.
  3. Ability to develop a good rapport with clients.
  4. A nurturing and non-judgmental attitude. 
  5. Ability to set and maintain appropriate boundaries with clients.
  6. Cultural understanding, sensitivity and development towards cultural competency.
  7. Effective communication skills orally and in writing (e.g. for reports) to a variety of audiences.
  8. Develop and participate in collaborative processes.
  9. Practice ethical behavior.
  10. Review and currency with evidence-based practices.
  11. Accurate and timely documentation of program activities and outcomes.
  12. Practice of professional development by continually assessing personal performance and practice with the willingness to change behavior and seek assistance, if applicable, in order to model professionalism.
  13. Serve as a credible resource and advocate for MARR and the RSU program.
  14. Consensus building and conflict management.
  15. Time-management.
  16. Dependability.
  17. Flexibility.
  18. Exercise of competent, professional judgment when dealing with clients, the public and other professionals to maintain the client’s best interests at all times.
  19. Maintaining professional standards and upholding the legal and accepted codes that pertain to professional conduct.
  20. Performance within the general policies and principles of MARR and RSU.
  21. Knowledge of Addiction theory including the disease concept
  22. Knowledge of Substance dependence and mental health disorders
  23. Knowledge of Women’s specific health and human service needs (including sexual abuse and other forms of domestic violence)
  24. Knowledge of basic approaches to working with families
  25. Knowledge of local, state and federal regulatory requirements pertaining to program operation
  26. Knowledge of available community resources
  27. Knowledge of cultural, ethnic and community standards and norms

Interested applicants should submit your resume to brenda.bray@marrinc.org.