Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II

County of Sonoma; Santa Rosa (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Telework

Salary advancement

Bilingual premium pay

Paid time off

Health premium contributions

Staff development

Job summary

County of Sonoma seeks an Alcohol and Other Drug Services Counselor II to support the DUI program, delivering counseling, case management, and education to clients under court supervision. Responsibilities include screening, documentation, reporting, and making referrals to services as needed.

The role requires understanding of laws, ethics, and quality care, with emphasis on client engagement, collaboration, and maintaining professional standards. Hybrid work and competitive benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Two years experience equivalent to AODS Counselor I with related duties.
• One year experience equivalent to AODS Counselor II with bachelor’s degree or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management, counseling, education, and evaluations to DUI program participants.
• Screen and assess clients; maintain documentation; prepare court and program reports.
• Provide referrals and regularly audit files and caseloads.
• Coordinate with DMV to ensure program compliance.

Skills

Ethical judgment

Legal knowledge

Active listening

Professional communication

Cultural competence

Motivational interviewing

Conflict resolution

Problem solving

Crisis intervention

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, AD/CS or related field

Job description

Position Information

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 DHCS's website: 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.

As the ideal candidate for this position, you will have a passion for this field of work and a genuine dedication to being an AODS Counselor, which enhances empathy and understanding when working with your clients. In addition, you will possess many of the following:

• 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.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

OR

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.

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

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

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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 abusive 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.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (scored as pass/not pass). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

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