SUD Counselor - Swing Shift, CDIS

Shift: Swing (3pm - 11:30pm)

Days Off : Wednesday, Thursday

Shift Differential: $0.50 Per Hour

Insurance Benefits : Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

JOB DEFINITION

Crisis Solutions Center is a residential treatment facility that provides stabilization services to clients experiencing acute or ongoing behavioral health crises. Substance Use Disorder Counselors work within a multi-disciplinary team to create and implement detailed, client-centered care and safety plans; facilitate group and individual counseling; and ensure services are fully integrated with mental health, substance use, and primary care teams. Substance Use Disorder Counselors will complete screenings and perform assessments, maintain a comprehensive list of community partners and client resources; and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform alcohol and drug use assessments to develop and support client-driven treatment plans; facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate treatment and support groups for clients
• Provide substance use consultations and trainings to Crisis Solutions Center staff as appropriate; serve as a subject matter expert on harm reduction and best practices by providing trauma informed care/destigmatization in SUD language and documentation.
• Advocate for client access to community resources and services; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients admitted to the CSC.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation in emergent situations; work as a team to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment including 15-minute client wellness checks.
• Maintain current and complete clinical and administrative records, including but not limited to goal planners, progress notes, safety and risk assessments, shift summary notes, and care-coordination between internal and/or external partners.
• Demonstrate DESC core values and professionalism in all client and staff interactions; follow agency clinical policies and procedures; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned
• Provide phone consultation for referents to the CSC, monitor office security cameras, answer phone calls, and other administrative duties.
• Serve food, do laundry and change linens, help clean common areas, and occasionally clean up bodily fluids and biohazardous waste using appropriate PPE.
• Provide transportation for clients as necessary.
• Attend a 2-week onboarding process upon hire and attend a full day of mandatory training during employment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed by the State of Washington as a Substance Use Disorder Professional in good standing.
• Ability to drive an agency or conduct agency-related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.
• Ability to obtain a Washington State Food Handler’s Permit.
• Interest in working with individuals who are experiencing mental illness and/or substance use disorders who may be difficult to engage in other treatment programs.
• Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships and client choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate and work effectively with consumers and staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates degree in a relevant social science.
• Knowledge of de-escalation skills, crisis intervention & stabilization, and harm reduction strategies.
• Familiarity of relevant community resources and methods for accessing them
• Experience working with adults living with mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders
• Bilingual
• Candidates with diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, walk when completing rounds several times a day, move quickly during de-escalations, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, and lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.