Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance

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Job Descriptions | 12VAC35-105-410 | Page 1 out of 5

| 410 – Job Descriptions

Focus: Outpatient Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) | Issued: 4/1/2017 | Developed: 4/1/2017 Ongoing, 4/1/18;4/1/19;4/1/20;4/1/21/4/1/23; Revised, 4/1/2024

Outpatient Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) Job Description

The scope of practice for a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor is defined in § 54.1-3507.1, which states that: “A certified substance abuse counselor shall be (i) qualified to perform, under appropriate supervision or direction, the substance abuse treatment functions of screening, intake, orientation, the administration of substance abuse assessment instruments, recovery and relapse prevention planning, substance abuse treatment, case management, substance abuse or dependence crisis intervention, client education, referral activities, record keeping, and consultation with other professionals; (ii) qualified to be responsible for client care of persons with a primary diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence; and (iii) qualified to supervise, direct and instruct certified substance abuse counseling assistants. Certified substance abuse counselors shall not engage in independent or autonomous practice.

General Statement of Responsibilities

The Certified Substance Abuse and Outpatient Treatment Counselor (1.) is accountable for assessing and providing treatment to individuals with emotional, mental, or substance abuse difficulties, including abuse of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

The counselor’s job role is to help clients get out of the addiction by educating them the skills or the mechanics to deal with their addiction. Apart from counseling sessions, it is the responsibility of counselor to undertake therapy sessions for client’s family.

(2.) and outpatient diagnosis that requires evaluation, screening and intake, counseling, psychotherapy, behavior management, psychological testing and assessment, laboratory and other ancillary services, medical services, and medication services.

Major Duties

• Interviewing clients, reviewing records, and conferring with other professionals.

• Counseling clients’ in-group or individual sessions to help them to cope with any abuse problems.

• Counseling and helping family members to aid them in dealing with, supporting, and understanding the patient.

• Monitoring, evaluating, and recording client progress with that of treatment goals.

• Collaborating with nurses, physicians, and counselors to coordinate and plan treatment.

• Modifying substance abuse and outpatient supports depending on the progress in client status.

• Planning and conducting programs to combat social difficulties, prevent substance abuse, or improve counseling and health.

• Referring patients, clients, or families to community resources available for treatment or housing.

• Supervising and directing other workers (if required) providing services to patients.

• Knowledge of principles, procedures, and methods for substance abuse counseling, relapse, disease process and outpatient counseling

• Strong desire to assist people suffering from drug or alcohol abuse problem.

• Ability to gain confidence, trust and respect of the patient.

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Job Descriptions | 12VAC35-105-410 | Page 2 out of 5

| 410 – Job Descriptions

Focus: Outpatient Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) | Issued: 4/1/2017 | Developed: 4/1/2017 Ongoing, 4/1/18;4/1/19;4/1/20;4/1/21/4/1/23; Revised, 4/1/2024

• Ability to maintain emotional distance from patient.

• Provides direct, outpatient substance abuse and outpatient counseling services to individuals receiving services.

• Involved in providing input of substance abuse and outpatient support plan desired outcomes and updates.

• Assists in planning of substance abuse and outpatient supports and services.

• Provides support in daily outpatient and substance abuse training and education of acquiring and utilizing community resources.

• Teaching individuals problem-solving and crisis intervention skills.

• Provides a variety of substance abuse and outpatient interventions for individuals in their home and community environments as appropriate and necessary. These interventions may be behavioral, medical and crisis related as needed.

• Provides linkage to community-based services and supports; provides advocacy and support for individuals with these services.

• Help support individuals with coordinating scheduled appointments, as needed.

• Treat all individuals receiving substance abuse and outpatient support with dignity and respect at all times and be informed that as an employee or contractor providing a provision of services that you are a mandated reported of any Human Rights Violation.

• Provide feedback for ISP Quarterly and Annual Review Meetings and make recommendations as needed to the ISP.

• Help support individuals with coordination transportation, as needed to scheduled outpatient appointments and/ or various community resources.

• Available for on-call crisis intervention for individuals (when applicable).

• Is responsible for the proper and timely documentation of all information required by the DBHDS office of licensing, Magellan, and according to policies.

• Maintains regular and ongoing contact with referring agencies, as well as other agencies involved in the individual’s case such as social workers.

• Actively coordinated and plans discharge and aftercare plans with referring agency.

• Attends interagency meetings, as necessary.

• Attends and participates in team meetings, attends and participates in orientation, in-services training, and conferences as required.

• Attends scheduled supervision meetings.

• Performs other duties as assigned and Adhere to all facility policies and procedures.

• Maintain knowledge of substance abuse current services by attending workshops/ seminars/ conferences as well as collaborating with other outside agencies and organizations and professionals as a representative and an advocate for BECAUSE WE CARE II.

• Maintain confidentiality and security of individual’s service records.

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Job Descriptions | 12VAC35-105-410 | Page 3 out of 5

| 410 – Job Descriptions

Focus: Outpatient Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) | Issued: 4/1/2017 | Developed: 4/1/2017 Ongoing, 4/1/18;4/1/19;4/1/20;4/1/21/4/1/23; Revised, 4/1/2024

Qualifications

An employee/ or contractor with at least a bachelor’s degree in human services or related field (social work, psychology, psychiatric, rehabilitation, sociology, counseling, human services counseling, or other degree deemed equivalent to those described) from an accredited college and/or with at least three years of clinical experience providing direct services to individuals with a diagnosis of substance abuse. Certification in substance abuse from an approved school, board, or organization (“CSAC” - Certified Substance Counselor) or (“MATC” – Medication-Assisted Treatment Counselor)

A person with at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in an unrelated field that includes at least 15 semester credits (or equivalent) in a human services field and/or who has at least 3 years of clinical experience working in the field providing direct services to individuals with a diagnosis of substance abuse. Certification in substance abuse from an approved school, board, or organization

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Must Have

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• Valid operator’s driving license.

• Satisfactory Criminal Records Report and Child Registry Background Check.

• Test with results of not having TB in a contagious form.

Additionally, employee/ contractors are required to inform the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR within 24-72 hours if their driver’s license ever becomes suspended or is placed in a temporary statue by DMV as a result of one or more of the following:

• DUI.

• Reckless Driving.

• Unpaid Court Fines or Fees.

• Points Violations of minus 12 or more Points on Driving Record (due to multiple moving violations).

• Failure to maintain current and valid Driver’s License (due to expiration).

Any employee/ contractors failing to report any of the above DMV violations to the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR within 24-72 hours shall have their employment suspended and /or terminated.

The CEO shall also require each employee/ contractor hired for employment to sign a consent form for authorized random checks of their DMV driving record.

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Job Descriptions | 12VAC35-105-410 | Page 4 out of 5

| 410 – Job Descriptions

Focus: Outpatient Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) | Issued: 4/1/2017 | Developed: 4/1/2017 Ongoing, 4/1/18;4/1/19;4/1/20;4/1/21/4/1/23; Revised, 4/1/2024

Knowledge Of

A. Individual ISP Process.

B. DBHDS, Human Rights, and Magellan Regulatory Guidelines.

C. DSM V Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms of DSM V Disorders in Chronic, Non-Chronic and Co-occurring populations.

D. Substance Abuse and Outpatient Services Documentation Requirements.

E. Substance Abuse and Outpatient Services Principals and Methods.

Skills/ Abilities In

F. Demonstrates positive interpersonal communication and listening skills.

G. Maintaining up-to-date records and reports.

H. Maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues, individuals, outside agencies, organizations and professionals.

I. Maintaining professional ethical standards.

J. Exercise sound professional judgement.

K. Make and implement clinical decisions.

L. Manage multiple work priorities.

M. Adaptability and flexibility in responding to regulatory changes that affect program services or funding.

All facility employees and/or contractors are required to receive training and maintain all required certifications in the following areas.

• M. HCBS Rule Compliance-Annually
• N. Medication Administration- Annually
• O. Behavior Intervention- Annually
• P. Emergency Preparedness- Annually
• Q. CPR- Based on Card Certification Expiration Date
• R. First Aid- Based on Card Certification Expir