Drug Addiction Counselor

Company:  Prevention and Resiliency Services, Inc ("PARS")
Job Title:  Drug Addiction Counselor
Job Classification:  Full-Time, Exempt
Pay Range:  $55,000-$61,000 a year, based on experience
Supervisor:  Executive Director, PARS
Location:  Topeka, KS
JOB SUMMARY
As an Addictions Counselor at PARS, you play a crucial role in our team, contributing significantly to the well-being of the community we serve. Your responsibilities go beyond clinical services – they're about creating connections, fostering partnerships, and ensuring that our clients receive the support they need. They include performing substance abuse evaluations for youth and adults (program offerings subject to change) and and subsequent follow up as determined by the evaluation in regard to referrals. They may also facilitate presentations and trainings. Using the Communities That Care (CTC), and/or Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model, local, state and national data, they effectively provide accurate information on alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) issues and other behavioral health issues that affect the PARS service area.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Clinical Services

• Provides substance abuse evaluations for youth and adults referred to PARS, including DUI evaluations and makes appropriate outgoing referral to community partners and submits reports to referral sources in a timely manner.
• Provides SUD evaluations for Shawnee County Drug Court; responsible for communicating evaluation schedule to drug court.
• Responsible for monthly billing to drug court coordinator, billing for private pay clients in accordance with agency policies and practices.
• Maintains client files per state statutes and follows HIPPA guidelines, adhering to stipulations provided by KDADS and PARS personnel manual.
• Coordinates agency efforts to ensure all state statutes are met per licensing requirements for yearly (2 year) license audit requirements. This includes but is not limited to coordinating visits from the Fire Marshal and QI/RM reports. Works with appropriate staff to assure compliance measures and documentation is completed and available. Provides coordination with state auditors and documentation as needed for those audits, as directed per Executive Director and agency policies.
• Ensures all clients are screened appropriately and referred to appropriate placement via any crisis intervention.
• Maintains current licensure, adhering to the Behavioral Services Regulatory Board (BSRB) and an additional three hours per licensure period of adolescent specific continuing education per PARS personnel manual.
• Seek professional growth opportunities through addiction and prevention related training, credentialing, professional reading, etc.
• Ensures that PARS clinical staff have appropriate and current licensure along with maintaining continuing education requirements.
• Supervises interns or other staff related to client services including evaluation and case management services. Professional leadership is expected through appropriate motivation, direction, review and feedback on assignments.
• Schedules timely evaluation appointments to meet clients' needs whenever possible.
• Adheres to confidentiality requirements for client records and information, and to ethical standards of conduct as stipulated by the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services and the PARS personnel manual.

Reporting

• Maintains evaluation and case management records as required by licensing policies and provides supervisor with required reports on services provided.
• Maintains accurate tracking of evaluation and PCCM clients and maintain annual referral log for state auditing and grant reporting purposes.
• Coordinates scheduling for evaluation and case management services and assures coverage for evening needs in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Coordinates with contractors to provide translation services as needed for evaluation and case management clients in collaboration with Executive Director.
• Maintains contacts and relationships with community referring agencies (i.e. annually promoting agency services via email to schools, attorneys and other partners).
• Provides grants management for clinical services in collaboration with the Executive Director and assists with grant development.

Education

• Disseminates current alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) information throughout Shawnee County.
• Creates, provides and/or facilitates ATOD education, trainings, workshops, continuing education and group presentations to community partners as needed/requested.
• Develops and/or selects relevant curriculum and implement as needs and funds are identified for relevant agency services/topics.

Promotion

• Develops new and maintains current partnerships with relevant agencies to provide and expand client service base and services.
• Participates in statewide, regional and/or local committees/task forces as approved by the Executive Director.
• Participates in agency planning and evaluation of programs and services.
• Seeks to expand PARS services that are currently not offered, but could be expanded in the future. These may include but are not limited to include: outpatient counseling (individual and/or group, and family), treatment plan development (with client input), crisis intervention, education/intervention programs.
• Provides regular feedback to Executive Director and other relevant groups including board, other staff, etc. as required.
• Assists with National Night Out and other agency programs and activities as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a social services field from an accredited four year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Appropriate BSRB credential as Licensed Addictions Counselor or Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor, or Licensed Master Addictions Counselor in the State of Kansas required.
• Certified to administer and score Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI), SASSI-A (required) and ASI (preferred).
• Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) preferred.
• Kansas Certified Gambling Counselor (KCGC) preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal communication.
• Proficient word processing skills required; expertise with Office 365 and associated programs.
• Ability to understand, interpret and explain to lay public, statistical and survey data, graphs and other addiction and prevention concepts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Regularly required to see, hear, and/or talk.
• Frequently required to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time.
• Frequently required to lift and move up to 10 lbs.
• Remain awake and alert throughout the work shift.
• Some travel, most local, is required
• Satisfactory level of dexterity to complete various tasks, i.e. operating a computer keyboard.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Professional and time oriented environment in an office setting.
• Interaction with staff and the public.
• The work may include frequent interruptions, inappropriate behaviors and the potential for verbal and physical threats.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
The scope of your role may evolve, and that's part of the dynamic nature of our work. You embrace additional duties with adaptability, understanding that our collective goal is to make a meaningful difference in the community.
In summary, your role as an Addictions Counselor is not just a job – it's a collaborative effort within our team, working towards the betterment of the community we serve. Your dedication, skills, and team spirit make you an integral part of PARS.