Counselor I - RES

Job Summary: The Counselor is responsible for providing therapeutic interventions designed to assist clients to successfully complete the substance abuse treatment or other clinical treatment program.  No direct supervisory responsibilities. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

Client Management 

• Conducts initial intake assessment to determine individual treatment needs from clients seeking substance abuse treatment as required per program. 
• Conducts orientation for individuals referred to the program. 
• Provides clients with individual and group counseling and case management services, as related to their ongoing needs based on their individualized treatment plan. 
• Maintains up-to-date client record documentation. 
• Facilitates therapeutic group and individual counseling. 
• Completes client psychosocial assessments and develops and/or revises and implements individual client treatment plans. 
• Prepares periodic reports on client status and activities as required by funding agencies. 
• Facilitates substance abuse education using approved curriculum. 
• Monitors and notifies Director of potential psychological crises with individual clients that may affect the operation of the program or the facility, or may necessitate further intervention. 
• Maintains documentation of treatment in CMBHS or other electronic record-keeping, and other client files as required by funding sources. 
• Attends all scheduled client staffing’s, and provides input as appropriate. 
• Develops referral linkages with community resources. 
• Facilitates job skills training. 

Administrative 

• Conducts in-service training for staff as needed. 
• Attends staff meetings and training as scheduled. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 
This position does not have direct organizational supervisory responsibilities.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT 
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

OTHER 

• Time commitment: 
  • 40+ Hours per week full time 
  • Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends 
• If driving for VOA-TX business: 
  • MVR background check (good driving record) 
  • Valid Texas driver’s license 
• Criminal background check 
• Approval from TDCJ to work in TDCJ-funded programs, is required 
   

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and must successfully complete any required training and acquire any required certifications within prescribed timeframes. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

COMPETENCIES (Knowledge/Skills/Abilities) 

• Familiar with community resources. 
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate therapeutic counseling for individuals and groups. 
• Reasonable combination of skills in psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, communications, resource development/linkages, and substance abuse or other clinical counseling is required. 
• Displays passion and optimism. 
• Inspires respect and trust, and treats people with respect. 
• Demonstrates high degree of integrity and ethical standards. 
• Upholds organizational values. 
• Exhibits confidence in self and others, and inspires and motivates others to perform well. 
• Demonstrates ability to work with multi-disciplinary team. 
• Good working knowledge of basic computer functions. 
• Good oral and written communication skills. 
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference 
•  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. 
•  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field plus five years of transferable experience, with at least three years directly related (managing major facility operations). 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 
To meet the qualifications of a licensed substance abuse treatment program in Texas, the counselor must hold an LCDC license from the state of Texas.  If working in substance abuse treatment, must be in good standing with DSHS.  
A licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) is licensed to provide chemical dependency counseling services involving the application of the principles, methods, and procedures of the chemical dependency profession as defined by the profession's ethical standards and the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) as defined by rule 25 TAC chapter 441 (relating to General Provisions). The license does not qualify an individual to provide services outside this scope of practice. 

Valid Texas Driver’s License and ability to be insured 

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 is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste and taste or smell.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.