JOB SUMMARY

The Substance Abuse Specialist provides substance abuse education and relapse prevention strategies and implements social model interventions in the environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides expertise in the areas of substance abuse and co-occurring disorders to interdisciplinary team while interacting therapeutically with clients in the environment and in the community and demonstrating boundaries consistent with professional standards.
• Coordinates the full range of client’s needs, providing brokerage, linkage and advocacy to ensure resources sand services are accessed in a timely manner, while providing community-based services in clients residence as needed, and prepares critical care issues for discussion during supervision and daily organizational and staff meetings and presents at daily and individual treatment team meetings.
• Works with Team Lead and/or Manager in rotating client visits/assignments with the treatment team and provides service coordination/case management for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring activities of the treatment team.
• Provides individual supportive coaching in all areas of the client’s life, as well as education of symptom management in consultation with psychiatrist and ACT nurses, and develops, evaluates, and implements treatment goals and plans in conjunction with the treatment team.
• Utilizes best practice in psychiatric, substance abuse, prevocational, nursing, and illness management techniques with a strengths-based approach that is consistent with principles of CCISC and Assertive Community Treatment and assists in promoting program services to community when appropriate.
• Introduces clients to Common Ground software and assists with completion of the Common Ground Health Report before medical office visits.
• Maintains a minimum degree of training and knowledge in cultural competency, co-occurring and gender responsiveness and trauma-informed care.
• Provides support including on-call crisis intervention, covering nighttime and weekend hours, and performs shift management duties in coordination with other ACGT staff as directed by Program Manager.

• Comply with all MHS and program rules, policies and procedures including HIPAA standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• M.A./M.S. degree in human services field, and at least two years of experience providing mental health and substance abuse services to individuals with co-occurring disorders, preferred.
• License-eligible with board registration, preferred.
• Substance use certification preferred in a substance abuse treatment field, and two years of experience providing substance abuse and integrated services to individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• Training and/or experience in substance abuse programs and treatment, relapse prevention, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and 12-Step programs.
• Valid California’s Driver’s License and Valid California Automobile Insurance.

• Proficient user of Microsoft Office Suite and EHR software.
• Ability to problem solve and react appropriately to emergency situations.
• Ability to work independently and effectively collaborate with a team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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 qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 
  Seeing
• Hearing
• Speaking
• Stooping/Bending
• Working in cramped spaces
• Moving around office
• Moving between offices/clients
• Driving
• Climbing
• Lifting/carrying heavy items
• Pushing/pulling/dragging items
• Standing for long periods
• Working outside/underground
• Using hands/fingers
• Sitting for long periods of time

MHS is committed to Equal Opportunity Employment and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability or protected veteran status.