Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II

County of Sonoma (CA); Santa Rosa (CA); Hybride; USD 44 000 - 73 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Hybrid Telework

Salary Advancement

Bilingual Premium Pay

Paid Time Off

County Health Premium Contributions

Staff Development/Wellness

Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement

Retirement

Paid Parental Leave

Additional Benefits

Student Loan Debt Relief

Résumé du poste

County of Sonoma (CA) seeks an Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II to support the DUI program, delivering case management, counseling, and evaluations to offenders referred by the court. The role emphasizes assessment, documentation, and coordinating services to ensure participants meet program requirements.

The position offers a competitive salary up to $52.94/hour ($110,492/year) with a comprehensive benefits package, potential bilingual premium pay, and hybrid work arrangements.

Qualifications

• Must have ethical judgment in DUI cases and client needs.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws applicable to DUI programs.
• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Spanish preferred.
• Experience with motivational interviewing and crisis intervention.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and ethical standards.
• Completion of Counselor Certification within six months if not licensed.

Responsabilités

• Provide case management, counseling, education, and evaluations to participants.
• Screen, assess, document, and prepare reports for court and client programs.
• Coordinate referrals with DMV and ensure program compliance.
• Audit files, documentation, and caseloads regularly.
• Collaborate with DUI program and other agencies to deliver services.

Connaissances

Ethical judgment

Active listening

Cultural competence

Motivational interviewing

Crisis intervention

Boundary setting

Professional development

Bilingual English/Spanish

Formation

Two years experience in DUI/alcohol & drug education

Bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology or related field

Description du poste

Grow your career and make a difference in your community as an Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II with the County of Sonoma!

Starting salary up to $52.94/hour ($110,492/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

Note

California Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1) requires that any individual who provides counseling services in a licensed or certified Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) program, except for licensed professionals (see Minimum Qualifications below)*, must be registered or certified with an organization approved by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Individuals must be currently registered, certified, or licensed to be eligible for employment.

For more information on registration and a list of approved certification agencies recognized by the DHCS, please visit Counselor Certification Organizations.

The Department of Health Services is currently recruiting to fill an Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor position at either the I or II level. If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.

About the Position

The Department of Health Services is looking for an Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) Counselor to work in their Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program.

The Driving Under the Influence Program works with the Court to provide services to first-time and repeat offenders. The DUI Program is a state-mandated service governed by Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, which requires ongoing compliance monitoring.

The AODS Counselors in the DUI program provide case management, counseling, education, and evaluations to individuals, groups, and families participating in the program. This work involves screening and assessing clients, maintaining excellent documentation, preparing court and client program reports, and providing diversion services. In addition, AODS Counselors will work with the DMV to ensure clients meet program requirements, provide referrals as needed, and regularly audit files, documentation, and caseloads.

Please note: In the state of California, staff assigned to a DUI program who conduct educational sessions shall have at least two years of experience in providing alcohol and/or drug education and information to persons with alcohol and/or other drug problems in a classroom setting. This California requirement must be met to move forward in the process for this currently open DUI position.

Qualities we are looking for

• The ability to use ethical and professional judgment when working with DUI cases and client needs
• A general understanding of relevant local, state, and federal laws and regulations
• Excellent active listening skills, along with strong professional communication skills
• Cultural competence and the ability to engage with diverse populations
• Experience with motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and crisis intervention
• The proven ability to maintain healthy boundaries and adhere to high ethical standards
• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to ongoing professional development, including staying informed on current trends and treatment methodologies
• English/Spanish bilingual fluency (highly desired but not required)

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Bilingual Premium Pay* - An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions- 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement- County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

The Department of Health Services is currently recruiting to fill an Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor position at either the I or II levels. This Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be either:

• Two years of experience equivalent to the Sonoma County class of Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor I with responsibilities involving alcohol and drug treatment and education programs that directly relate to the knowledge and skills listed above and academic coursework in sociology, psychology, alcohol and other drug services and other closely related fields.
• One year of experience equivalent to the Sonoma County class of Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II with responsibilities involving alcohol and other drug treatment and education programs and possession of a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, alcohol and other services drug treatment or other closely related fields.

License

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised in this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Special Qualification

All employees of this class must register, obtain, and maintain a Counselor Certification as defined by the California Code of Regulations, Chapter 8: Certification of Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors. Upon appointment to this class, employees will have six months to register and five years to obtain Certification from an ADP approved certifying organization whose curriculum includes a minimum of 240 hours of formal classroom training. Human Resources will waive the Counselor Certification requirement for licensed professionals (or registered interns) who successfully pass a written examination similar to that administered for Certification. This examination will be administered by the Sonoma County Human Resources Department, and will be designed to measure those areas included in the curriculum required for certification.

Approved Certification Agencies

A list of approved certification agencies recognized by the DHCS may be found at the following site: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/CounselorCertificationOrganizations.aspx

Additional Special Qualification

Some positions may require the ability to fluently speak and write a language other than English.

Working knowledge of

The needs, problems, attitudes and behavior problems of the alcohol and drug abusing person; modern methods of diagnosing and treating persons who abuse alcohol and drugs; basic principles of individual and group behavior; socio-economic, environmental, and cultural factors affecting the behavior of alcohol and drug abusing persons; principles and techniques of group, family and individual counseling; laws, rules, regulations and department policies related to client confidentiality; counseling techniques related to the treatment of alcohol and other drug abusing clients; services and resources provided through other governmental agencies and community-based organizations.

Knowledge of

County program policies and procedures; court procedures and etiquette; County, State and Federal laws governing public alcohol and other drug abuse programs; community organizations involved in alcohol and other drug abuse programs; principles of supervision; effective personnel practices including recognition, performance evaluation, and progressive discipline; principles and techniques of employee training.

Ability to

Oversee and coordinate the work of other staff; train, develop and lead staff; understand and apply County alcohol and other drug program policies and procedures; provide consultative services in complex situations involving behavioral and physiological conditions of the alcohol/drug client; evaluate the behavioral and physiological conditions of the alcohol/drug client; coordinate the delivery of alcohol and other drug abuse services; analyze situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; recognize problems which call for the use of public and private community resources; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships; effectively listen, mediate and resolve complaints; read, interpret, apply, and explain complex regulations and reports; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds; establish and maintain effective work relationships with all types of persons encountered in the course of work; develop rapport and maintain cooperative relationships with clients and service providers; read, understand, apply and explain regulations and procedures governing job training programs; work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team; use computers and related equipment as necessary for job assignments.

Licensed professionals include a physician licensed by the Medical Board of California; or a psychologist licensed by the Board of Psychology; or a clinical social worker or marriage and family therapist licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, or an intern registered with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: SZ

HR Technician: KK