Certified Additions Counselor II or III

 

ADDICTION COUNSELOR

Description of Job:

• This position provides substance use disorder services to the offender population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:


• Serves as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning;


• Monitors offender treatment and documentation to assure compliance with standards and to assure continuity of care;


• Assures accurate Information System behavioral health needs levels, and provides group, brief, and individual treatment;


• Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of offenders.


• Assures continuity of care for offenders by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies;


• Provides crisis intervention in conjunction with clinical standards regarding mental health professional privilege level;


• Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive offender behavioral health records;


• Communicates directly with offenders regarding their behavioral health care such as consequences of maladaptive behavior and desired and undesirable effects of prescribed behavioral health medication;


• Listens to offender concerns and provides counseling and direction;


• Communicates to advise, counsel, inform and/or guide staff within the clinical unit, the facility, clinical and administrative supervisors and outside agencies to ensure continuity and direction of behavioral health care;


• Communicates and responds to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and offender behavioral management issues;


• Responsible for maintaining standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards;


• Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicant must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the behavioral health sciences. You must attach a copy of your transcripts that contain your name, name of the college, type of degree received, and date degree was awarded.


• Applicant must have one year of professional experience as an addiction counselor.

Substitutions:

• Experience as an addiction counselor will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.


• Additional education in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. You must attach a copy of your transcripts that contain your name, name of the college, type of degree received and date degree was awarded.

Special Qualifications:

• Applicant must possess a current, valid Level II or III Addiction Counselor Certification (CAC II or III) or Addiction Counselor License (LAC) issued by the Colorado State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners.

Required Competencies:

• Ability to provide direct behavioral health care to offenders;


• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation;


• Ability to work independently;


• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external stakeholders;


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;


• Must maintain certification/licensure as an addiction counselor;


• Ability to work with a diverse population of offenders;


• Strong organizing, planning and prioritizing skills;


• Keen ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility;


• Ability to provide addiction counseling as part of a multi-disciplinary team;


• Ability to be creative when implementing therapeutic interventions;


• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;


• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing addiction treatment to an incarcerated population;


• Experience providing addiction treatment to a diverse population;


• Experience working with highly resistive clients;


• Experience administering Standardized Offender Assessment-Revised (SOA-R) Assessments;


• Experience providing clinical supervision;


• Experience providing addiction counseling in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

Conditions of Employment:

All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position, completed at the applicant's own expense.

• Must be 21 years of age;


• Possess a valid Driver's License;


• Possess a High School Diploma or GED;


• Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents;


• Successfully pass all modules of the Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;


• Successfully complete initial drug screening, and random drug screening throughout employment;


• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics);


• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;


• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;


• Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;


• Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;


• Swing a baton in a striking technique;


• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;


• Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;


• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and may be exposed while on assignment;


• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;


• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;


• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;


• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;


• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;


• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;


• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;


• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;


• Willing and able to travel;


• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;


• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;


• Successful completion of a background investigation is required. Should applicant's background reveal criminal charges, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Department of Corrections with written/official disposition of any charges;


• The CDOC is committed to a drug and alcohol free work environment. Our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A drug test will be administered to all new employees; employees must successfully pass. Random drug screening will occur throughout employment.