Counselor (50975)

WestCare Inc; Sheridan (WY); On-site; USD 24,727 - 29,673; Full time

Job summary

WestCare Inc. in Sheridan is hiring for a full-time role focused on substance abuse programs for clients. The successful candidate will conduct assessments, develop service plans, provide education groups, and assist with self-help initiatives.

Qualifications include a high school diploma, certification as a Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and strong communication skills. The position offers an hourly salary ranging from $17.95 to $21.54, along with supportive working conditions.

Qualifications

• Clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor required.
• Must complete 40 hours of continuing education biennially if CADC licensed.
• Experience in intake and assessment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete client assessments using required tools.
• Develop service plans with short- and long-term goals.
• Provide daily treatment groups on therapeutic concepts.
• Assist clients in developing self-help groups.
• Maintain individual client treatment files securely.

Skills

Knowledge of offender populations

Excellent communication skills

Strong computer skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work in a team

Bilingual

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Masters or bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Details

• Job Location: Sheridan Correctional Center - 4017 E 2603 - Sheridan, IL 60551
• Position Type: Full Time
• Education Level: High School
• Salary Range: $17.95 - $21.54 Hourly
• Travel Percentage: None
• Job Shift: Day
• Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Position Summary

The person in this position will be responsible for providing a variety of programs in relation to substance abuse for clients participating in the program. Essential job functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions

• Complete the assessment of each client with the required assessment tools.
• Initiate and sustain each individual's motivation to participate in treatment, using techniques of engagement including therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on the stages of change.
• Develop a comprehensive service plan for each client that includes the results of assessments, and short- and long-term treatment goals and objectives of the client (the service plan is developed with the input of the client, but within the limitations imposed by IDOC).
• Provide daily treatment and curriculum-based education groups on the basic concepts of therapeutic communities, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and the stages of change, communicable diseases, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, fundamental social skills, and personal moral development.
• Assist clients in the development of self-help groups, such as AA/NA, which offer clients an opportunity to support one another in recovery.
• Maintain individual client treatment files in accordance with agency policies and procedures, including documentation of vocational/educational activities, as well as all other pertinent documentation and ensure files are securely stored.
• Provide general client supervision, including planning and scheduling therapeutic activities.
• Maintain all information according to the laws of confidentiality as required by the Federal Register, General Provisions, Title 42, Chapter 1, Part 2, which prohibits making disclosures without the specific written consent of the client, or as otherwise permitted by such regulations.
• Obtain a signed release of confidential information (disclosure form) from each client authorizing OSAP to review case files for quality assurance reviews and evaluation of WestCare performance, and maintain as a part of the client file.
• Maintain thorough records of each client's participation, including participant IDOC number, unique identifier for the WestCare program, beginning and ending dates of service, number of hours of participation, and number of days of participation.
• Submit all individual client data on a weekly basis for entry into the WestCare database.
• Attend all required staff development training, including cross-training, and WestCare in-service training such as conducting assessments, clinical skills, developing service plans, basic TC concepts, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and stages of change, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, social skills, moral development, communicable diseases, and self-help groups.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Clinical Certification

• Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA).
• Meet the requirements specified above within two years after the date of employment; and
• Not work in any supervisory capacity until such requirements are met; and
• Work under the direct, verifiable supervision of an individual who has staff supervisory responsibility at the facility and who meets the requirements above; and
• Sign, and adhere to, a professional code of ethics developed by the organization.

Training

• Must complete 40 hours of continuing education biennially if CADC licensed.
• Within two years of hire, must obtain 150 hours of clinical supervision and 225 hours of training/education (100 hours AODA Specific, 6 Professional Ethics, and 119 IC&RC Performance Domains) and complete the CADC written examination to obtain licensure.

Education

• Masters or bachelors degree is preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies

• Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, substance abuse assessment tools, therapeutic community concepts
• Intake and assessment experience is preferred
• Bilingual is preferred
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management
• Must possess strong computer skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to pass background check
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality
• Must have a professional appearance and demeanor
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from the Illinois Department of Corrections
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in an institutional setting.
• Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

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, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required.
• 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.
• 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 is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

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 settings.
• Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.