Counselor

Position Summary:

Counselors are primarily responsible for the delivery of individual, group and family counseling services and completion of documentation required for the clinical record including, but not limited to; development of the Treatment Plan, psychosocial assessment, daily notes and weekly reviews.  Counselors will attend interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, monitor treatment throughout the client’s care and establish parameters for discharge planning.  Counselors are responsible for crisis intervention and de-escalation of situations to ensure safety to all.  This includes assessment of crisis situations to determine severity and making recommendations to direct care staff to insure consistency and appropriateness of staff responses to issues.  Counselors may direct and supervise staff assigned to them.  Counselors will develop an approved curriculum as the basis for group and individual counseling.  Essential Job Functions include those listed below.  Other duties may be assigned as needed. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Utilize counseling and psychotherapy to evaluate and treat emotional and mental problems and conditions, whether cognitive, behavioral, or affective.
• Assess need and make decisions regarding the delivery of the appropriate individual, group and family counseling.
• Conduct interviews and make assessments of potential clients to determine need and appropriateness for program participation and referrals.
• Analyze situations and take necessary actions to provide crisis intervention.  Interpreting and implementing WestCare procedures regarding crisis intervention as appropriate.
• Supervise and direct the activity of direct care staff.
• Provide direct counseling services to clients.
• Monitor and assess client behavior.
• Create Individual Treatment/Service Plans.
• Work under the supervision of Program Direction and ­Regional Administrator.
• Receive at least 4 hours of documented face-to-face supervision monthly.
• Have all treatment plans co-signed by Program Director.
• Report to immediate supervisor any unusual incidents that should be brought to the attention of the Program Director, Regional Vice President of regulatory agency.
• Participate in decision to refer clients for ancillary services, i.e., family support groups, continuing care groups, etc.
• Complete documentation required for clinical records and other reports as assigned.
• Attend all interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and establish parameters for discharge planning.
• Ensure that all staff are following WestCare policies and procedures.
• Make recommendations to immediate supervisor regarding performance evaluations of program staff.
• Make recommendations to immediate supervisor regarding interviewing and hiring of direct care staff.
• Requires regular and consistent attendance to ensure continuity of counseling services to clients.
• Follow all WestCare policies and procedures.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• All other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

• Maintain the highest ethical and professional standard as to clients and employees.
• Ability to avoid all dual relationships with clients (any personal, financial, business, social or sexual relations or other activity outside the context of the traditional therapist-patient relationship).
• Meet all state and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines in provision of client services.
• Shall have completed 80 hours of training in alcohol and other drug abuse counseling within 4 years immediately prior to the date of assuming the duties of Counselor at the program, or within 2 years immediately thereafter.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• High level of initiative.
• Ability to lead and also be a part of the team.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, childhood education, education counseling and/or similar course of study.
• Mid-level certification as a counselor for alcohol, drug, family or related services from the national Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors, the National Board of Certified Counselors or similar organization preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Indoor and outdoor settings.
• Group and/or individual counseling sessions.
• Direct contact with clients of all ages and levels of functioning.
• Fast paced environment.
• Potential for high noise level at times.
• A minimum of 40 hours per week are expected but significantly more hours will be required from time to time.  Completion of job duties may require working before and after normal working hours.  Regular attendance is required.  Being able to work as many hours as is necessary to complete job tasks is a required and essential duty of this position.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility, to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, must be able to lift and carrying up to 30 pounds.  Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). 

• Requires the ability to operate a motor vehicle.  Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions, to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility, and when driving a motor vehicle.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues.  However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions. 
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions. 
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged situations.
• Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.