About this role
The pay for this position is between $55,000 - $65,000 annually.
Position Purpose:
The Co-Occurring Disorders Specialist provides clinical services/counseling, screening, and case management services to clients/clients/participants in one or more specific embedded community setting (distinct jobs in which services are provided at primary care or specialty medical practice offices; or working with persons who are unhoused; or working to provide team-based care to a specific population or setting) as an independently licensed practitioner. This work is typically as a part of an interdisciplinary team that includes medical providers (doctors, nurses, etc.), case managers, peer support services, housing advocates, and/or others. The work is often fast-paced and involves pivots according to the needs of the team, and the clients served.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties:
Core Competencies
• ENGAGEMENT, SCREENING, AND ASSESSMENT
• Assesses clients comprehensively, according to needs of embedded team and agency needs; Clinicians should be proficient in diagnosis, formulation, risk assessment, level of care assessment, identifying strengths and areas of ongoing challenges, etc.
• Assesses client's social and family structure in context of client/client/participant's presenting problems
• Assesses and plans for the client/client/participant's aftercare needs
• Conceptualizes clients and systems in their social context, taking into account systems stressors as well as intra- and interpersonal problems and strengths
• Demonstrates understanding of addiction and recovery, including as it relates to screening, assessment, engagement, clinical interventions and approaches, and ASAM criteria for referrals and placement
• Synthesizes and conveys relevant information, including clinical and case formulations, orally and in writing.
• Formulates understandings of case material, using all data available as well as understanding of interplay between stressors and vulnerabilities and presenting problems.
• Understands best practices for assessment and treatment of clients with diverse backgrounds and cultural experiences, including intersectionality and the impacts of systemic oppression and marginalization
• Assesses and diagnoses clients, using DSM 5 criteria, consulting with team members as necessary
• Demonstrates the ability to form a therapeutic relationship with the client and families.
• Contacts the client's providers and referral sources to obtain collateral information for assessment, and to coordinate treatment
• Uses standardized assessment and screening tools as necessary, including for depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide and violence risk
• Must be able to use in-person, telephonic, and two-way video telehealth to engage client as needed
• TREATMENT
• Demonstrates the ability to provide direct clinical care to clients to promote change according to the client/client/participant's treatment plan.
• Individual Psychotherapy: In a manner appropriate to the setting and frame, meets with client in a therapeutic relationship to address clinical and psychosocial issues relevant to the client's diagnosis and presenting problems, and promotes change according to treatment goals.
• Family work/family therapy: Engages therapeutically with client family and systems to further client's treatment and progress toward goals, indicated
• Supportive therapy: Meets with client as necessary to provide support and resolve specific task-oriented problems that may have an impact on treatment.
• Group therapy: Meets with clients in psychoeducational or psychotherapeutic group sessions to promote, through the group process, individual growth according to treatment goals.
• Demonstrates the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge of clinical practice, group dynamics and individualized biopsychosocial assessment effectively and ethically in treatment.
• Attends and participates in treatment planning/ team planning sessions of assigned clients on a regular basis. Reports consistently to the treatment team with regard to assessments and the content and focus of therapy.
• Documents all interactions with client(s) in progress notes in the electronic medical record.
• Documentation will adhere to any policies of embedded agency, as well as Retreat policies where appropriate.
• Maintains contact with referral sources and involved community agencies according to the aftercare needs of the client, using professional judgement and according to the client's treatment plan, as coordinated with other treatment team members.
• Demonstrates an understanding of evidence-based practices for the populations served and maintains competency in these areas.
• Engages actively with community support systems, health care and human service resources, courts and police, etc., to coordinate care and treatment, when appropriate
• PROFESSIONALISM AND TEAM ENGAGEMENT
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Maintains effective working relationships with program staff as indicated by direct observation of supervisor
• Maintains effective working relationships with program staff as indicated by direct observation of supervisor
• Supports program policies and priorities relating to client/client/participant care, workflow, and productivity
• Demonstrates good organizational and time management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced setting.
• Healthworks Team Clinician
• Adheres to all policies of embedded site, and responds to specific needs of site as necessary
• Provides consultation and support to team in their work with complex co-occurring populations, and ways of intervening most effectively
• Screens and assesses clients for mental health and substance use disorder needs
• Provides informal services to clients at shelter sites who are not formal clients of HCRS, including referral and engagement activities
• Makes referrals, as needed, for mental health, substance use disorder, and medical treatment, both routine and urgent
• Outreach work in home community settings is required
• Clinician will maintain records of client/participant contacts
• KEY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM THE JOB:
• Work reflects integration of the HCRS core mission and values.
• Maintains good attendance and punctuality.
• Demonstrates continued learning and professional development in designated field by attending in service and other training that address the ages and developmental level of the client/client/participant population served and attends annual mandatory training.
• Customer Service/Courtesy: Demonstrates concern and courtesy to clients, families, vendors, and the general public by giving appropriate information, advice, and assistance.
• Interpersonal Relations: Demonstrates behaviors that encourage cooperation, support and teamwork with other employees.
• Adheres to Code of Conduct Policy at all times with clients and staff.
• Emergency Preparedness: Demonstrates or verbalizes proper procedures in responding to fire drill and disasters.
• Safety: Demonstrates safe work practices appropriate for the position, i.e., how to report a safety hazard, proper body mechanics, and use of personal protective gear. Reports incidents according to procedures.
• Infection Control: Demonstrates or states an understanding of standard precautions appropriate for the assigned position and the environment in which it is located.
• Confidentiality: Maintains confidentiality of all personnel and client/client/participant information as documented by signed confidentiality statements and as described in Confidentiality & Privacy Policy and HIPAA policy and regulations.
• Assumes responsibility for continuing education, professional development and up to date mandatory training in designated field.
• Client's Rights: Demonstrates behaviors that recognize the rights of client/client/participant as defined in Client Rights Policy and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of Performance Improvement process and participates in developing and implementing annual objectives.
Relationships: Reports to the Assistant Director, Healthworks.
Qualification Statements:
• Bachelor's degree in social work or other behavioral health discipline required. Master's degree in clinical social work preferred
• Substance use counseling experience and expertise required. ADC, LADC, or comparable certification in the state of Vermont is required at time of hire or within first year.
• If unlicensed, must be willing to work toward licensure.
• Knowledge of and experience with population being served
• Possession of a valid driver's license and access to a private vehicle for day-to-day job performance.
• Working knowledge of computer skills
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to listen effectively. Ability to read and interpret documents such as: clinical reports, safety plans and rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to fill out forms, as well as the ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively with consumer, other providers, and team members.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram or schedule form. Ability to know when to get help.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to work required hours. Safe and reliable transportation is required for this position.
Knowledge of appropriate ways to contact the supervisor. Knowledge of appropriate physical restraint techniques may be required.
Working Conditions and Additional Information:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Some of this work may be done in consumer's homes, which may be smoky, have strong odors, etc. This cannot be controlled.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee must be strong enough to physically restrain a consumer (if appropriate to client's treatment) and defend oneself from assault.
• While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include:
• Close vision
• Peripheral vision
• Depth perception
• Ability to adjust focus to perform such tasks as driving and reading reports.
Note:
The above duties or working procedures describe the chief functions of the job. They are not to be considered a detailed description of every duty of the job. Any HCRS employee may be assigned other jobs and duties as required by the agency needs.