SUD Counselor (SUDP/SUDPT)

Description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Day

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION:

The SUDP/SUDPT works collaboratively with agency staff & community resources to provide a range of services to clients with substance use disorders (SUD) using a harm reduction approach. Recovery goals and treatment length are defined by the client, not the program. Many clients have a sustained and/or complicated substance use history in addition to co-occurring mental health and physical disorders. Often people suffering from mental health issues, complex trauma, and health issues who lack access to proper treatment attempt to self-medicate with substances to lessen the symptoms. The ability to provide highly integrated services to people with concurrent mental health, substance use, and physical diagnoses are crucial components of our care. At DESC, our network of clinical services allows SUDPs/SUDPTs to work in coordination with care teams in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Care team members often include peers, mental health case managers, clinical support specialists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses and supportive employment staff.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform substance use disorder assessments, intake evaluations, individual and group therapy, create Individual Service Plans (ISP) with clients, care coordination within and outside of DESC.
• Participate in weekly supervision (with direct supervisor) and team meetings. SUDPTs will participate in a weekly SUDPT learning academy.
• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and present clients needing extra support during weekly psychiatric consultation.
• Coordinate care conferences with entire care teams when issues are initially identified by the SUDP/SUDPT.
• Participate (if needed) in monthly Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) meetings.
• Participate in all required DESC in-service and King County sponsored trainings.
• Follow all DESC agency policies & procedures.
• Ensure timely documentation of all services provided as outlined by King County and DESC.
• Participate in research related to services at DESC within the agency and outside entities (UW, HCA, etc.).
• Maintain credential licensing on time. If SUDP, maintain continuing education requirements. If SUDPT, be enrolled in school per DOH requirements and provide documentation to employer.
• Other duties as assigned

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Support your clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions. This can include but is not limited to attending care conferences related to living conditions, outreaching and supporting clients in their residential units with tools and skills to maintain their units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in cleaning out clients’ units, and documenting barriers to maintaining healthy living conditions.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed by the State of Washington as a Substance Use Disorder Professional or Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee in good standing.
• For SUDPT: Attested to the WA State Department of Health that the applicant is currently enrolled in an educational program to meet the educational requirements of a SUDP. The requirement for full licensure is an associate degree.
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
• Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bi-cultural and/or bilingual background/experience.
• Experience working with adults experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.