Clinical/In-Custody Counselor- Bilingual Preferred

Encompass Community Services; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

Encompass Community Services in Santa Cruz, CA seeks a bilingual ALTO SUD Counselor to join our integrated outpatient team serving at Alto SUD and in-custody programs. The role balances community-based counseling with in-custody group facilitation, delivering ASAM-based assessments and discharge planning.

The position supports a trauma-informed, equity-focused approach, with supervision toward CADTP/BBS licensure.

Qualifications

• Registered or certified drug and alcohol counselor with CADTP, CAADE, or CCAPP or active registration as an Associate with BBS.
• Active driver's license and ability to drive to Watsonville and Santa Cruz offices.
• Pass background check clearance and Santa Cruz County jail clearance for in-custody services.
• Ability to work in telehealth and in-office settings during COVID-19.
• 1 year experience providing counseling (group and individual); Masters internship hours may count toward experience.

Responsibilities

• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Manage and maintain individual caseload; provide 9 hours of direct service weekly.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Provide individual sessions and group counseling for substance use disorder clients.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Meet weekly billable units for Medi-Cal billing.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Coordinate funding source authorizations with Program Manager.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Conduct ASAM assessments.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans per ASAM.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Maintain up-to-date chart documentation.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Provide case management linking to resources.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Develop discharge planning sessions as treatment concludes.
• ALTO SUD OP Counselor: Other duties as assigned.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Attend corrections trainings for jail site access.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Facilitate approximately 6 in-person groups.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Manage charting and data reporting requirements.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Develop intake consents and treatment plans.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Maintain up-to-date chart documentation.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Coordinate with jail program staff and SUD Program Manager.
• ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor: Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Drug & Alcohol Counselor

Bilingual English/Spanish

Telehealth readiness

AVATAR system experience

Tools

AVATAR system

Job description

Encompass Community Services

Job Category

Clinical Research

Overview

Description

About Us:
At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day - through these services - we work to make health, education, and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County. For more than 40 years our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health, and regain dignity.

Summary:

This position joins a team of clinicians in our Alto Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Outpatient program as a part of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System. We recognize that clients do not experience substance use issues in a silo – often there are mild to moderate underlying mental health symptoms that clients are trying to manage on their own. We take a trauma-informed, integrative approach to supporting clients in addressing their substance use and mental health symptoms so that they can find stability and thrive. This team is passionate about providing high-quality, integrated care to our most underserved and marginalized community members, including serving clients who are criminal justice involved and/or homeless. The clinicians at Alto have been serving this population for over 20 years, and are committed to healthcare equity for all.

The Alto Counselor will have a shared responsibility (32.5% approximately 13 hours per week) for maintaining a caseload of individual clients and facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting. Caseload responsibilities include: individual ASAM assessments, problem list development and reassessments, care coordination, and discharge/aftercare planning. The position is primarily a Drug Medi-Cal position and regularly uses AVATAR to complete Medi-Cal and other funder billing. Although Medi-Cal billing can include intensive paperwork and treatment charting, this position will support a developing counselor in gaining a skill set that can be valuable in any treatment setting, medical setting, or private practice.

The Counselor will also have a shared responsibility (67.5% approximately 27 hours per week) position with the local corrections department serving our in-custody population. The Counselor will be responsible for facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting in person at various jail sites, maintaining group charts, and – when necessary -administering curriculum packets according to COVID-19 protocols and restrictions. This is a unique position that is not often vacant and provides an opportunity to work with an experienced team of clinicians who specialize in Substance Use Disorder and Co-occurring Disorder Treatment.

This clinical track position supports an active pathway towards CADTP certification and BBS licensure (LCSW, LMFT or LPCC). Clinical supervision is provided by the agency to gain hours towards licensure. We are actively searching for a bilingual Spanish-speaking therapist to join our team. This position will work at both Santa Cruz and Watsonville offices depending on client need for services. Therapists on this team are providing in-person and telehealth sessions to clients in efforts to support client accessibility to treatment.

Encompass is committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the diversity and native languages of our community. Women, candidates of color, LGBTQIA identifying, and/or individuals with lived experience of behavioral health systems are highly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities:

ALTO SUD OP Counselor (32.5% of full time responsibilities)

• Manage and maintain individual caseload of clients; provide 9 hours of direct service weekly
• Provide individual sessions and group counseling for substance use disorder clients
• Meet weekly billable units of service (hourly) requirements for Medi-Cal billing
• Coordinate funding source authorizations and seek extensions when appropriate with support from Program Manager
• Conduct assessments using the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
• Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans that are dictated by the ASAM assessment
• Maintain up to date on chart documentation
• Provide case management to link clients to various resources and coordinate services with other providers
• Develop and provide discharge planning sessions with clients as treatment comes to closure
• Other duties as assigned

ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor (67.5% of full time responsibilities)

• Attend corrections trainings as assigned to maintain access to jail sites
• Facilitate approximately 6 in person groups to our in-custody population
• Manage and maintain charting, data reporting requirements
• Develop and maintain individualized intake consents and treatment plans
• Maintain up to date on chart documentation
• Coordinate regularly with Jail program staff and SUD Program Manager
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Registered or certified drug and alcohol counselor with one of the three state-approved accredited organizations (CADTP, CAADE, CCAPP) or active registration as an Associate with BBS. (Registration can be supported upon accepting job offer.)
• Applicant must have active driver’s license and the ability to drive to and from the offices in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
• Applicant must submit appropriate background check clearance and be able to pass Santa Cruz County jail clearance to provide in-custody services.
• Candidate must be able to work in a telehealth setting and in an office setting during COVID-19
• 1 year experience providing counseling treatment services (group and individual) – Masters level internship hours may count towards experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English and Spanish with ability to conduct clinical treatment in Spanish, including written treatment planning.
• Experience with evidenced based practice for Substance Use Disorder treatment services, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• Experience with criminal justice population preferred.
• Experience with telehealth platforms and practices is preferred.
• Experience with AVATAR preferred and strong computer literacy
• Strong writing skills

Wages & Benefits:

Our total compensation package includes a comprehensive medical and dental insurance plan for full time employees, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holiday, sick time, and 17 days of paid vacation, pro-rated for positions less than 40 hours a week.

A Bilingual provider will also receive a $1/hr stipend for verbal and written skills.

Encompass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. We are committed to excellence through diversity and strive to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all clients and employees.