SUD Counselor

Except in the case of an undue hardship, La Familia provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities when the accommodations are necessary to enable the persons to perform the essential functions of the job. The Agency also provides reasonable accommodations when necessary based on religious needs. Individuals requiring workplace accommodations must discuss their needs with La Familia Human Resources. Individuals seeking accommodations for disabilities are typically required to provide medical documentation supporting the existence of a disability, the need for the accommodation, and what workplace modifications will enable the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, the substance abuse counselor will be assigned to the Full Service Partnership (FSP) program, providing comprehensive substance abuse treatment including intake/assessments/ individual services, group, family counseling, psychoeducation, case management, and any other relevant services from being an integral part of the FSP program implementing the ACT and FACT services to clients who have abuse issues and or co-occurring disorders. The SUD counselor will work closely with the FSP team and Merced County BHRS supporting clients in their recovery and improving their daily functioning and reducing the need for residential treatment and/or inpatient placement. The SUD Counselor will meet deliverable expectations and requirements of the program. This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

This position is covered under the SEIU 1021 Collective Bargaining Agreement. In addition to the established base pay, members will receive negotiated annual increases as follows:

• January 2027: 3% base pay increase

Future increases will be subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct initial screenings, intakes and assessments;
• Formulate treatment plans in collaboration with clients and other significant partners;
• Conduct individual, group, and family counseling sessions as clinically indicated and in compliance with the ACT and FACT guidelines.
• Assessing and tracking clients’ stages of change readiness and stages of treatment
• Utilize Outreach and motivational interviewing techniques
• Provide assessment and appropriate referrals to clients for educational, training, and other supportive services as needed;
• Maintain all client files including timely documentation as defined by program contract;
• Represent clients and advocate on their behalf with probation officers, law officials, etc.;
• Maintain and submit all program documentation and reports in an accurate and timely manner;
• Actively identify and engage new clients by developing relationships with referral sources and guiding/implementing grassroots outreach strategies;
• Develop community resources for clients and family members;
• Be an integral part of the Merced FSP program;
• Attend collaborative meetings with other agencies;
• Plan, develop and implement educational, social and recreational activities for clients;
• Develop and complete compliance reports or performance reports as assigned;
• Participate in all agency activities, meetings, training, events, etc.;
• Modeling skills, attend Team daily Huddle
• Complete other duties as assigned by the Program Supervisor
• Participate in Recovery Incentives as assigned by Program Supervisor.
• Following all site equipment storage and security protocols
• Communicate with site leaders regarding supply needs
• Support facility management and daily maintenance routines, including cleanliness and sanitation protocols
• Prioritize patient and staff safety at all times, following protocols and procedures as communicated by site leadership.

Other

• Attend trainings and participate in events relevant to key responsibilities.
• Track and regularly report on key metrics for the responsible function areas.
• Leads and collaborates on projects supporting Agency objectives.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Leading the self:

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity
• Displays drive and purpose
• Manages self and adapts to change
• Exhibiting leadership stature
• Practice self-awareness and continuous learning

INCLUSION, RESPECT, AND COLLABORATION:

• Practices cultural humility and cultural responsiveness when engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, while practicing appropriate boundaries.
• Develop relationships with their teams and across the organization to foster cultural humility and cultural responsiveness, teamwork, and collaboration, ensuring positive outcomes for the organization both internally and externally.
• Utilize effective communication skills to listen and respond with empathy, while adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to drive innovative change. This approach should be sensitive to the organization's culture and its role within the community.