Substance Use & Mental Health Counselor (Corrections)

Job Summary

Integrity House’s mission is to help individuals and families through an effective and measurable system of comprehensive Therapeutic Community addictions treatment, mental health treatment, and recovery support in a way that brings about positive, long-term lifestyle change. Integrity House is a trauma-informed organization. The counselor is a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, and provides therapeutic services including individual counseling, group counseling, case management, assessment, referral, etc. to clients of Integrity House. 

This position is housed within a correctional setting. Employees hired to work in this setting are required to adhere by all policies, procedures, and other workflows identified by the correctional facility, and/or the County of Hudson. As a part of the correctional setting, the position requires staff to respond not only to Integrity House management staff, but also department of correction staff as guidance/direction is provided related to safety matters. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Perform all responsibilities as outlined in the Department of Health Regulations – N. J. A. C 8:111-1.9 Qualifications and responsibilities of the substance abuse counseling staff (addendum attached). 
• Assess client’s needs using evidence-based validated assessment tools (i.e. ASI, CASI, etc.), diagnose clients for substance disorders using the DSM (within scope) and determine appropriate level of care based on ASAM criteria in order to provide individual and group therapy, psycho-education, case management, and crisis intervention to clients.
• Develop a client-centered treatment plan collaboratively with the client which is recovery oriented and includes long-term and short-term goals with measurable objectives.
• Provide substance use disorder counseling services (individual, group, family, and crisis)—inclusive of all comorbidities, specified in the client treatment plan, when and where necessary, throughout treatment according to ASAM criteria to determine the need for continued services, transfer or discharge.
• Provide active case consultations and maintain ongoing communication (direct & in-direct) with supervisor, Director, coworkers and referral sources; participate in regular clinical case conferences meetings for assigned clients, weekly clinical supervision, trainings, workshops, and etc. – as assigned by Director.
• Keep accurate records and clinical documentation in the client’s electronic health record, in accordance with Annex A requirements; complete clinical documentation for all counseling, education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals, and follow-up in the paper and/or electronic records while maintaining quality assurance standards are met.
• Document complete and detailed facility incident reports for Director and any other persons stipulated to receive them, including referral source per contractual agreement and emergency contact when appropriate.
• Develop client’s transfer and/or discharge plans to ensure movement to appropriate levels of care; contact referral source (s), provide case consultation and coordinate with referral sources (i.e., criminal justice agencies and/or mental health treatment providers).
• Review referrals and schedule earliest pre-screening session with client, collaborating with Classification Department and Reintegration Team regarding admission related decision, when assigned to complete admissions for the program.
• Complete all intake documents during intake process: completion of electronic health record inclusive of client profile, disclosures & releases, counselor assignment, health insurance details, initial treatment plan, communication to the stakeholder regarding admission, etc. when assigned to complete admissions for the program. 
• Ensure all intake documents are signed by all relevant individuals and uploaded to the clinical record within the same week, when assigned to complete admissions for the program. 
• Perform additional functions supportive of the program as assigned by the respective Program Director.
• Adhere to all safety and security protocol of the worksite.

Required Education and Experience:

• Counselor Intern I: HS Diploma or Equivalent, required. Must apply for Alcohol & Drug Counselor courses with approved provider at the time of hire and actively pursue until completion.
• Counselor Intern II: Master’s Degree in Counseling Related Field, required. Must apply for Alcohol & Drug Counselor courses with approved provider at the time of hire and actively pursue until completion.
• Counselor II: CADC, HS Diploma, GED, BA, BS, or M, required.
• Counselor III: MSW or Masters in Clinical Counseling Field, required.
• Counselor IV: MSW or Masters in Clinical Counseling Field, required.
• At least three (2) years’ experience in human services fieldwork (Preferred)
• Experience in substance abuse program management, delivery, and evaluation (Preferred)

Required Licensing or Certifications:

• Counselor Intern I: HS Diploma or Equivalent, required. Must obtain valid credential within 3 years of hire.
• Counselor Intern II: Master’s Degree in Counseling Related Field, required. Must obtain valid credential within 3 years of hire.
• Counselor II: CADC, required.
• Counselor III: LSW, LAC, and/or LCADC, required.
• Counselor IV: LCSW, LPC and LCADC, required.