Full Job Description

The Substance Abuse Counselor/Peer Apecialist to assist and guide our mentees. In this role, you will be required to conduct regular one-on-one support meetings, develop recovery strategies, coordinate client schedules and logistics, and respond to any emergencies as needed. To ensure success as a peer support specialist, you should be empathetic and possess exceptional interpersonal communication skills. A top-notch peer support specialist should be able to easily identify warning signs in clients and provide effective interventions and emotional support.

Counselors are responsible for:

• Conducts mentee interviews to review substance use disorder and treatment history if any.
• Recommends and resources treatment with partners and other drug treatment facilities in addition to various AA and NA meetings in several l counties. Evaluates mentee response to treatment to recommend modifications to the treatment plan and assist with caseloads and development of individualized treatment plan and preparing individually appropriate goals, interventions, and necessary support.
• Assists with and provides basic didactic group counseling, including psychoeducation, drug education, and family education to ensure peer support occurs. • Sensitivity to HIPPA compliance and confidentiality is key.
• The ability to be kind, have a natural empathy for others.
• Provides individual client counseling, educational programs and lectures to address relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, etc., and to assist in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Under direct supervision and with supervisor’s approval, carries case load, per State and contract requirements.
• Collaborates with mentees to develop discharge summary and plans for supervisor’s approval to integrate aftercare treatment with referral resource services into our other programs and community.
• Coordinates required services to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations in support of continued recovery.
• Collects and maintains treatment records and reports to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• 'Candidates with a Bachelor's/Master's degrees and certification in a related field will also need at least 6 months of professional experience in substance use counseling and/or mental health counseling. If the degree is not in a related field, then the candidate needs 1 year of professional experience. Certified substance abuse peer specialist are also excellent for this position.
• Candidates with PhD degrees will need 1 year of experience if their degree is not in a related filed.
• Candidates with an Associate degree will need at least 4 years of professional experience in substance use counseling and/or mental health counseling.
• Candidates with a H.S. diploma/GED need 6 years of experience.
• Candidates who hold the Florida certifications for addiction counseling (Certified Addiction Professional [CAP], Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional [CCJAP], Certified Associate Counselor [CAC]) would also meet the criteria.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
• Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level.
• Basic understanding of mental health disorders requiring referrals
• Basic communication skills to exchange information and interact with various internal and external audiences regarding client care
• Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
• Ability to read and interpret policies and instructions
• Ability to understand side effects and impact of medications on client
• Adaptability / flexibility: ability to shift priorities

Physical Requirements:

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, and read.
• Ability to use a keyboard and video monitor to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data along with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to answer and respond to telephones call within a timely manner according to policies and referral follow up procedures.

Schedule:

• Day shift with possible swing shift when needed.
• 5 days Monday to Friday and alternating to include a Saturday when needed.
• Schedule may fluctuate based on trauma, crisis, victims in need, or project urgent deadlines.