Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee

Vision Statement - Our vision of Lifeline Connections is to be the recognized premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest by providing integrated care, comprehensive services, and enduring relationships.

Mission Statement - Through the use of superior customer service, high quality programs and a well-trained and dedicated staff, our mission is to inspire hope and support life-saving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions.

MAJOR DUTIES: The Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee provides counseling and case management for clients of the agency. The work includes assisting supervisory staff and Program Director in program review, daily management of treatment activities, and training/orientation of junior staff and trainees. The SUDPT is responsible for the daily treatment activities for clients on their caseload. This position provides clinical services to agency patients. In providing these services, the incumbent performs the following duties independently:

1. Collaborates with the supervisory staff and Program Manager, other senior staff members, and other counselors in building and maintaining an intense treatment environment that motivates clients to focus on problematic behaviors, allow clients to experience the consequences of their actions, and teaches clients more productive coping strategies;
2. Assesses the psycho social functioning of assigned clients and develops individualized treatment plans;
3. Apprises team members of specific treatment plans and intervention strategies so that therapeutic consistency can be maintained;
4. Leads treatment groups according to agency treatment guidelines;
5. Develops discharge/aftercare plans and makes appropriate referrals for follow-up care;
6. Documents relevant clinical information including treatment plans, treatment reviews, progress notes, and discharge summaries;
7. Provides crisis intervention services, information, and referrals to clients and their family;
8. Provides motivational counseling to collaterals to encourage participation in family support programs;
9. Teaches specialized treatment concepts to client groups according to agency treatment schedule;
10. Provides complete and accurate written and oral formats regarding the course of treatment to families, referral sources, and legal representatives;
11. Recommends and participates in the development, design and documentation of policies, procedures, and activities for the agency;
12. Conducts alcohol/drug assessments pursuant to WAC 246-341, or its successor; and
13. Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:

1. College course work in Substance Use dependency, human sciences or related field required;
2. Successful completion of at least one course per quarter/semester toward educational requirements as necessary to obtain an active Washington State Department of Health SUDP credential required;

1. Knowledgeable of a wide variety of therapeutic approaches and the ability to set and maintain therapeutic limits. The agency milieu mandates that the incumbent be flexible, versatile and skilled in developing creative behavioral interventions that modify inappropriate behavior;
2. Must be capable of functioning autonomously while maintaining continuous communication with other staff members;
3. A broad knowledge of the stages of human personality development including cultural, social, and psychological factors affecting individuals and families involved with substance use;
4. Knowledge and practice of crisis intervention theory;
5. Knowledge of the various theories, forms, stages, and manifestations of addictive behavior, awareness of common manifestations of resistance to change in the addicted client, awareness of socio-cultural barriers to change, and an in-depth knowledge of alternative coping mechanisms to replace the use of chemicals;
6. An understanding of the theory and practice of individual and group treatment of chemical abusing clients to facilitate client self examination, expression of feelings, insight development, problem solving, and motivation to develop a chemically free lifestyle;

1. CPR/First Aid Certification required for inpatient staff members;
2. Good verbal and written communication skills;
3. Great attendance;
4. Ability to work well with others.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

Incumbent functions as a Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee on an agency treatment team with specialized experience, training, and skills in the treatment of chemically dependent persons. The SUDPT is under the supervision of the Licensure & Training Coordinator and unit Program Manager. The SUDPT plans and carries out treatment activities selecting his/her own approaches with guidance from the Licensure & Training Coordinator. Consultation is provided by appointment, informal contacts and regularly scheduled team meetings.

GUIDELINES:

The Substance Use Dependency Professional must meet the requirements in RCW 18.205 and WAC 246-811. The SUDPT relies on specialized training and/or equivalent experience in the field of Substance Use dependency treatment, DBHR, Washington Administrative Codes, Revised Codes of Washington, and performance standards developed for the position.

COMPLEXITY:

The incumbent counsels clients who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral and psychological problems. Problems frequently encountered may include a history of varied and complicated criminal activities, mild to serious emotional disorders, a chronic absence of job skills or career goals, serious family maladjustments, poor education and inadequate interpersonal communication skills. In this position the Substance Use Dependency Professional Trainee is required to assess the psycho social functioning of the client to develop and implement a treatment plan appropriate to the identified and unique needs of the client under the supervision of the Licensure & Training Coordinator. To accomplish this, the SUDPT must be capable of developing a variety of treatment approaches for insight development, problem solving, and appropriate confrontation to assist the client to assume a Substance Use free lifestyle. Autonomy, clinical maturity, sound judgment, and creativity are required to help identify and monitor policies and treatment activities that will meet the complex needs of the clients.

SCOPE AND EFFECT:

The scope of activity is to assess, motivate and treat chemically dependent persons. The incumbent facilitates problem resolution by means of insight development, appropriate confrontation of behavioral problems and communication problems in the context of individual counseling and group therapy teaching. S/he utilizes a variety of community resources to address the complex range of client problems. The goal is to help the client eliminate the use of chemicals, develop alternatives to substance abuse, and commit him or herself to a viable recovery/rehabilitation plan. This is done in part by establishing and maintaining a therapeutic environment that is conducive to personal growth in the client.

PERSONAL CONTACT:

Contacts are with members of the treatment team, clients, significant others of the clients, administrative supervisory and clerical personnel, employers, representatives of various community agencies specializing in the treatment of chemical abuse, related community representatives including lawyers, parole officers, and other court officials. All personal contacts are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws dealing with the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse client/patient records.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or move a maximum of 20 lbs. Occasional heavy lifting may be required.

WORKING ENVIRONMENTS:

Most working hours are spent indoors in offices or meeting rooms. Occasional supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats/staff development activities may be required.