Methadone Counselor

Montefiore Health System; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Montefiore Medical Center is seeking a Methadone Counselor to provide psychosocial assessment, counseling, and support within the Substance Abuse Treatment Program. The role includes developing treatment plans and coordinating services for patients on methadone treatment in a comprehensive care setting.

The counselor will conduct individual, group, and family counseling, promote engagement with entitlements, and ensure accurate documentation in the clinic system.

Qualifications

• One year’s work experience as an addiction counselor, BA/BS required; CASAC or license in social work, mental health counseling, or related field.
• Knowledge of governmental, private, and community programs and entitlements; familiarity with state and federal regulations.
• Experience with computer software.

Responsibilities

• Comprehensive psychosocial assessment and counseling.
• Instruct patients in program policies and procedures.
• Development, implementation, and review of treatment plans.
• Provision of substance abuse counseling to individuals, groups, and families; focus on motivation, education, crisis intervention, relapse prevention, and aftercare.
• Coordination of services within the clinic for patients on counseling caseload.
• Monitor patients’ response to methadone treatment through counseling and toxicology review.
• Enter patient data into HRA/STARS computerized database.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings and engage in team activities.
• Maintain records and complete forms and treatment plans.

Skills

Addiction counseling

Case management

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS degree

CASAC or related license

Tools

HRA/STARS database

Job description

Job Details

City/State: Bronx, New York

Grant Funded: Yes

Department: Psych - SATP

Bargaining Unit: 1199

Work Shift: Day

Work Days: MON‑FRI

Scheduled Hours: 10 AM – 6:30 PM

Scheduled Daily Hours: 7.5 HOURS

Hourly Rate: $41.83

Job Summary

The Methadone Counselor position provides counseling to individuals receiving integrated substance abuse treatment and primary care services at the Substance Abuse Treatment Program.

Essential Functions

• Comprehensive psychosocial assessment and counseling.
• Instruct patients in program policies and procedures.
• Development, implementation, and review of treatment plans.
• Provision of substance abuse counseling to individuals, groups, and families, focusing on building motivation, education, crisis intervention, relapse prevention, and aftercare.
• Coordination of comprehensive services within the clinic for patients on counseling caseload.
• Monitoring patients’ response to methadone medication treatment through individual counseling and toxicology review.
• Conduct vocational/educational and learning needs evaluation in psychosocial and ongoing as indicated; provide referral as needed.
• Perform preliminary evaluation regarding mental health needs of patients on caseload (e.g., presence of psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, homicidality).
• Evaluate patient eligibility for entitlements (Public Assistance, SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and refer patients to appropriate agencies when indicated.
• Enter patient data into HRA/STARS computerized database.
• Act as liaison between patient and outside agencies.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings such as IDC’s, staff meetings, morning reports, case management meetings, and other team meetings determined necessary.
• Maintain required records on patients and update progress notes as required; ensure clinical chart contains necessary information regarding patient’s status and other information required by the program policies and regulatory agencies; complete all required forms and treatment plans.
• Assist patients with referral to other services and agencies necessary to the recovery process (e.g., shelters, detox units, legal counsel).
• Give case presentations in supervision, IDC meetings, daily reports.
• Ensure all counselor-specific billable services are billed and perform follow-ups to billing (delinquent payments, obtaining information required to bill, confirming and updating billing information).
• Attend seminars, trainings, and grand rounds determined to be important to staff development.
• Supervise the collection of toxicology samples for all patients as required by federal and state regulations.
• Meet with family members, significant others, and outside providers as determined necessary and appropriate for clinical management and care.

Qualifications

• One year’s work experience as an addiction counselor (preferably with methadone clients) and a BA or BS degree required; CASAC or license in social work, mental health counseling, or a related field is also required.
• Twelve core functions of counselors.
• Knowledge of governmental, private, and community programs and entitlements available to patients; familiarity with various state and federal regulations.
• Knowledge of computer software.
• Experience with recognizing signs of neglect or abuse of children, adults or elderly.

Montefiore Medical Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. Montefiore Medical Center will recruit, hire, train, transfer, promote, lay off and discharge associates in all job classifications without regard to their race, color, religion, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, gender, actual or presumed disability, history of disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic predisposition or carrier status, pregnancy, military status, marital status, or partnership status, or any other characteristic protected by law.