Outpatient Counselor

We are looking for you Do you want to be a part of the team that transforms lives? Cumberland Heights is more than a campus on 177 acres, it’s a community. Our mission is providing the highest quality care possible for persons and families who are at risk for or who are suffering from the disease of chemical dependency. Treatment encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of recovery by offering a safe, loving and healing environment, combining professional excellence and the principles of the Twelve Steps.

We have full-time positions available at our main campus on River Road in Nashville and our satellite location in Clarksville, TN.

Cumberland Heights Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Medical, Dental and Vision effective 1st day of month following 28 days of employment
• Employer Contribution for Health Saving Account or Health Reimbursement Account
• 401K with eligibility for a Company match after 90 days of employment
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual beginning day (1) one and up to 20 days of PTO the first year

POSITION SUMMARY

The Outpatient Counselor provides services that encompass the Eight Domains of Addiction Counseling: clinical evaluation, treatment planning, referral, service coordination, counseling (individual, family, and group), education, (patient, family, and community), documentation, and professional and ethical responsibilities). This position practices within the Cumberland Heights Model of Care, according to each counselor’s education and training, experience, credentials, and license. Counselors serve as the primary agent of the treatment team, working closely with the patient to create an individualized plan of care that supports long term recovery. The Counselor position may function in a primary, float, or family counselor role and reports to the Program Director of the assigned outpatient division.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include some, or all, of the following:

1. Manages a group of patients and coordinates their treatment and services within and across the continuum of care, based on collaboration with the patient, family, and concerned others, in consultation with the clinical treatment team and clinical managers.
2. Clinically evaluates the goals, preferences, needs, barriers, and strengths of the patient and support system, using a variety of standardized and empirical tools for the purposes of treatment planning.
3. Diagnoses substance use disorders and/or other co-occurring mental health disorders within limits of scope of practice as defined by education, training, and license, coordinating closely with physicians and psychiatric nurse practitioners as needed.
4. Collaboratively creates a patient-centered plan of care to support behavioral change toward patient’s goals in establishing ongoing recovery management, including review and revision of the plan of care as needed, as well as creating continuing care plans for the next step on the continuum of care.
5. Provides a variety of interactive psycho-educational groups focused on substance use disorders, common mental health issues, and skills to address these for patients and families, including provision of professional and peer support resources internally and in the community.
6. Facilitates individual, group and family counseling and/or therapy sessions, within scope of practice as defined by education, training, and license, utilizing evidence-based practices as defined within the Cumberland Heights Model of Care.
7. Documents clinical activities in the patient record according to established policies and procedures including capture of electronic forms, financial agreements, releases of information, or other information not completed in the intake and assessment process.
8. Participates in regularly scheduled and ad hoc team meetings and treatment plan review, as well as individual and group clinical supervision, according to organizational policy and license requirements
9. Communicates regularly with a wide variety of people in relationship with the patient, including family members, employee assistance professionals, physicians, referrals, judges, probation officers, etc., regarding treatment progress and continuing care needs, as releases of information and applicable law allow.
10. Intervenes in crises to deescalate situation and resolve crises, using events as entries into therapeutic process for patient. Performs CPR and First Aid as needed and maintains an active certification in conformity to state regulations and company policy.
11. Follows up within required time frame for SRA follow-ups, screener alerts, or outreach efforts from patients and families in crisis situations.
12. As assigned, provides clinical supervision for clinicians seeking initial license, interns, and clinical support staff within scope of practice defined by education, training, and license.
13. Maintains clinical credentials and notifies HR staff at each renewal period supplying most recent license, certification, or Continuing Education Requirement. Informs HR staff and supervisor upon any lapse of credential, including administrative delays of the credentialing body.
14. Serves on a variety of administrative and quality management teams as clinical representative as assigned and assists with supply procurement,;office appearance and, as needed, office sanitation; drug screens; measures of safety for the office and for other staff and for patients and visitors.
15. Represents Cumberland Heights at outside professional meetings as needed, including presentations and marketing/development activities as assigned and assists in the management of public inquiry, assessments, or drop in inquiries, serves as liaison with alumni and self-help groups meeting on the property, develops video or audio/visual aids for use in the group or other groups.
16. As part of a team, provides a therapeutic environment conducive to healing for patients and families throughout the continuum of care.
17. Recommends ways to improve the quality and delivery of services.
18. Ensures proper handling and distribution of company funds as needed.
19. Maintains confidentiality of company and patient information.
20. Reacts productively to change.
21. Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

May provide clinical supervision and/or daily task supervision for clinicians seeking initial license, interns, and/or clinical support staff, working closely with administrative supervisor, clinical supervisor, and/or academic supervisor to meet supervisees’ goals and to resolve any issues/concerns; provides clinical and/or daily task supervision within the ethical codes of the discipline, as well as within the NAADAC Code of Ethics and the Cumberland Heights Code of Ethics

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Master’s Degree in related field (e.g., counseling, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work) or LADAC I required with LADAC II preferred; LCSW, LPC-MHSP, or equivalency also preferred. One year experience involving addictions related treatment preferred with experience involving age/population specific addiction treatment also preferred; and/or equivalent experience in job related activities; addiction specific Master’s Coursework and/or internships and practicums are a plus.

OTHER SKILLS

Counseling: ability to teach, model, and use evidence-based counseling practices for substance use disorders and common co-occurring disorders in support of 12 Step philosophy as appropriate to individual, family, program, and population; ability to quickly establish and maintain therapeutic alliance with individuals and families; ability to self-manage in order to present calm and therapeutic demeanor and effective interventions for patients experiencing extreme stress responses; working knowledge of 12 Step concepts and programs is a plus; ability to be open and culturally humble to a wide variety of patients whose experiences may be outside of the counselor’s own, including the full span of human development.

Communication: ability to effectively speak, read, and write in English; second language, particularly Spanish is a plus; ability to communicate clearly and concisely in terms understandable to patient/family, as well as in clinically appropriate language; ability to communicate in a collaborative strengths-based manner that builds relationships, including those among the team

Technology: proficient in use of Microsoft Outlook applications with ability to quickly learn and utilize specialty software, including electronic medical record; proficient in use of current video technology, as well as the use of various forms of media (slide decks, internet clips, etc.) for teaching purposes.

Physical/Safety: Ability to lift and/or push pull up to 25 pounds; ability to speak, hear, see, sit, walk, stand, reach and use fine/gross motor skills for essential job functions; ability to move around within and between buildings, as well as across campus on uneven and rural terrain (River Road and ARCH campuses) in response to patient needs; ability to perform emergency crisis intervention holds as needed; certified or eligible to become certified in crisis prevention/intervention, first aid, and CPR.

Professionals in Recovery: One year of recovery required with five years preferred; commitment to practice within professional codes of ethics, including NAADAC and Cumberland Heights’ Code of Ethics, including keeping those codes as relates Cumberland Heights’ patients if one should leave employment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Position is in a residential or non-residential behavioral healthcare organization that involves interaction with people who are experiencing extreme stress responses, including withdrawal and/or acute intoxication and co-occurring mental health disorders in individual office and group room settings, as well as larger community meeting areas, in a campus setting with multiple buildings (ARCH/River Road) or in a mixed commercial building setting. Position may be subject to evening, night, and/or weekend work, as well as to staying overnight for inclement weather as part of critical staffing.