SUMMARY

The Certified Addiction Counselor works in Behavioral Health Department under the supervision of the Clinical Director. This position works collaboratively with other Behavioral Health Services and Primary Care staff to provide comprehensive, holistic behavioral health services to those clients seeking to recover from addictions.

The Certified Addiction Counselor provides regular groups and one-on-one counseling for recovery from addictions within the villages. They will work with the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clients in collaboration with Primary Care staff. They will ensure clarity in all communications, both written and verbal, and meet the highest standards of confidentiality, accuracy, and professionalism.

JOB DUTIES

An Addictions Counselor works in diverse areas, initiating and providing assessment and treatment of emotional, behavioral, psychological, and physical (such as in the cases of active intoxication or withdrawals) habits and addictions. This position carries responsibility for assisting in the recovery and healing process for clients of the Behavioral Health Department. Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Ensures that all clinical records are accurate, timely and in compliance with CARF, State, Federal, and ethical guidelines.
• Provide culturally appropriate individual, couples, and family and group addictions recovery services.
• Conduct chemical dependency treatment and therapeutic recovery support services.
• Knowledgeable in and able to provide distance therapy sessions, psychoeducational training, and crisis interventions using technological tools.
• Provide expertise in addictions with opioids, methamphetamines, marijuana, alcohol, and other addictions.
• Provide comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessments, treatment plans, and referrals.
• Prepare and maintain confidential records and program reports and adhere to governmental and organizational confidential.
• Remain current with all client documentation using CERNER and/or other documentation programs.
• Provide psycho-educational information for individuals, school, and community groups.
• Attend workshops, conferences, and other forms of training as necessary.
• Provide assessments for the clients of the Behavioral Health Department including outpatient substance abuse, residential treatment, and court referrals as needed.
• Provide and facilitate group counseling for substance abuse, addiction, and co-occurring disorders.
• Coordinate and provide continuing care or aftercare and continuing contacts for all program participants through frequent telephone or face-to-face contacts.
• Provide individual counseling, when necessary or requested.
• Network, collaborate, and correspond with agencies working with clients.
• Provide coverage for other Addictions Counselors through outpatient counseling services while these counselors are unavailable.
• Maintain a spectrum of clinical services to assist clients in transition from residential to outpatient and aftercare as needed.
• Participate in the treatment team staffing and ensure teamwork in the provision of services as requested.
• Maintain data as required by the Director and submit reports as needed.
• Attend required meetings and trainings.
• Assist in program planning and development of the outpatient addictions program.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY

• Must have specialized training in opioid treatment and at least one year of career experience.
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in all areas of job performance including adherence to appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality practices regarding beneficiary activities and documentation.
• Recovering substance abuser must be alcohol and drug free for at least five years.
• Applies sound clinical judgment, ethics, and accountability to formulate and implement treatment plans and other clinical documentation.
• Must have a positive attitude and a strong customer service mindset.
• Ability to take initiative in problem solving.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate with a wide range of people.
• Well-organized, self-motivated, and independent worker; understands the need to prioritize work.
• Maintains high standards for professional work.
• Strong sense of personal responsibility and integrity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• Three years or more of supervised addiction counselor work experience.
• Must possess Alaska Chemical Dependency Counselor I Certification.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• Education and expertise in addressing historical, personal, developmental and other types of trauma with Alaska Native populations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is generally sedentary, requiring routine walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items weighing less than 25 lbs. Most of the work is performed in an office setting with a wide variety of people with differing functions, personalities, and abilities. CRNA is a smoke free and tobacco free campus. May require local travel between compact services of CRNA which may involve exposure to extreme weather conditions. Works in an environment where protection of client confidentiality is essential. Personal Protective Equipment will be provided when and where needed.

SPECIFICATIONS

Supervision Received:

Work will be monitored through meetings, reports, and regular communication with the immediate supervisor. General guidelines for operations are based on program requirements, conditions of grant award(s), and the general policies and procedures of CRNA.

Supervision Exercised:

Position will exercise supervision of assigned staff and complete required documentation, including performance evaluations, training, and general oversight through direct reports.

Contacts: Contacts include and not limited to volunteers, organizational staff, clients, and outside agencies.

CONDITIONS OF HIRE

• All employment at CRNA is "at will." This means that the employee or CRNA may terminate employment at any time and for any reason. Unless specified in writing, no term of employment is expressed or implied for this position.
• CRNA is a no tolerance workplace. All employees must pass an initial and random drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
• CRNA has several positions that require a criminal background check for the safety of our clients. All employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until CRNA has received a federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.
• As applicable by position and company policy, must meet standards for fitness for duty, immunizations, credentialing and privileging.