Chemical Dependency Counselor

Overview

The Counselor is an important part of high-quality behavioral health services provided to patients of UnityPoint Health. Services will be provided at Abbe Center and in the Substance Use Disorder Services department. Foremost among the responsibilities listed below is the delivery of competent and professional services that are in accordance with the overall institutional goals and objectives, regulatory standards and requirements and their own professional ethical standards. St. Luke’s C.A.R.E. delivery model (Continuity, Accountability, Relationship-based, Evidence-based) reflects a commitment to compassionate, competent care delivered by the interdisciplinary team. Utilizing a harm-reduction model of treatment is provided through a therapeutic relationship with the patient. A spirit of inquiry is encouraged and supported. Small tests of change and more formal research efforts are used when the evidence is not clear. Evidence-driven protocols are utilized to assure reliable and consistent care. The patients to be served include adolescent, adult and geriatric.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options focused on your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental, health and vision insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Join our team of experts and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

• Provides evaluation, counseling and therapeutic services to Substance Use Disorder patients/families assessing patient’s social, psychological, emotional, financial, cultural problems and substance use history.
• Makes recommendations for treatment and acts as a liaison and patient/family advocate with the treatment network.
• Maintains open communication with referral sources, families, or others involved in the patient’s treatment regarding the patient’s progress, discharge plans and aftercare plans.
• Supports the patient and family throughout treatment by maintaining open communication with referral resources, patient and family. Assists the patient and family in working towards positive outcomes.
• Coordinates the patient’s care with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Develops individual treatment plans based upon information gathered.
• Assists patient with adjustment to illness, motivation for treatment and realistic planning for post treatment care. Coordinates the completion of the Aftercare Plan with patient and recommends post-treatment referrals for patients.
• Documents per department guidelines.
• Maintains current knowledge of behavioral managed care and the precertification and utilization review activities necessary to obtain treatment approval.
• Provides statistical data or special reports as required by Substance Use Disorder Services department.

Development & Patient Education

• Continues professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance clinical practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research.
• Participates in community education as assigned.
• Serves on professional organization committees or boards as appropriate.
• Assess and chooses teaching strategies and therapy modalities appropriate to the patient’s age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
• Consults appropriate resources within Behavioral Health Division to provide specialized education.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
• Provides educational in-services as assigned.
• Participates in conjoint conferences with patients, concerned persons and referral sources as appropriate.
• Develops, promotes and maintains a good relationship with self-help programs such as AA, NA and CRUSH of Iowa.
• Participates in mandatory education and department staff meetings, per established guidelines.

Qualifications

Education: Completion of an approved counselor’s training course of at least one year, or two-year AA degree in the human service field.

Experience: Two years of experience in a structured, supervised treatment setting may be substituted for the education requirement.

License(s)/Certification(s):

t-CADC or CADC certification, required

Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.

Must be certified as a substance abuse, or alcoholism or chemical dependency counselor by IBC (or equivalent in another state that has reciprocity with Iowa) or be certification eligible

If chemical dependent or co-dependent, must have two years sobriety from mood altering chemicals