VitalCore Health Strategies logo
VitalCore Health Strategies
James T. Vaughn Corr. Center-Behavioral, Smyrna, DE, US, DE, United States

Substance Use Disorder Counselor - CAADC, CADC

CounselorIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55k-$68k

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join the VitalCore Team in Delaware! We’re people fueled by passion, not by profit!

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Health Care, has an opening for a Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Community Corrections Treatment Center and James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, DE for Full-Time!

Pay is based on experience and having a CADC.

You will be given the opportunity to utilize your training, skills and experience in a face-to-face setting with people from a variety of socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. Being able to see the impact you are making with these individuals, when they are at their lowest, least hopeful points.

You will be working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team comprised of Medical, Psychiatry, Ancillary, Security, Legal, community providers and psychiatric hospitals. The best part of this – It is done in real-time with real people!

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELOR PACKAGE TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
  • 401K & Plan Matching
  • PTO
  • Annual Incentive Bonus
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Position Summary

The SUD Counselor will work as part of a multidisciplinary team with all other disciplines on the Behavioral Health Unit to provide a proactive and collaborative approach in serving the patient population. Flexibility of working days, evenings and weekends

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Minimum Requirements

  • Graduation from a Bachelor's level program or higher
  • Employment in a clinician/counselor/social work capacity in a public or private agency or equivalent preferred.
  • Must have a substance use certification (i. e., CADC, CAADC) or must be actively working towards attaining a substance use certification and must obtain the certification within two years of hire.
  • Individuals who are not certified must be under the direct supervision of a certified clinical supervisor with written documentation of supervision.
  • Flexibility of working days, evenings and weekends

Substance Use Disorder Counselor Essential Functions

  • Professionals will provide crisis stabilization, complete intakes and on-going evaluations, and provide consultation to in-house and community services.
  • Participate in monthly behavioral health calls, work collaborative with the medical team to best determine overall treatment for each individual.
  • The SUD Counselor performs risk assessment of inmates; coordination of care with interdisciplinary team including medical staff, community providers, psychiatric hospitals and corrections; and discharge planning.
  • The SUD Counselor assists in planning and implementing the goals and objectives of programs and projects.
  • The SUD Counselor provides the necessary preparation of documentation, necessary records and reports.
  • The SUD Counselor utilizes clinical skills such as prioritizing treatment needs; crisis management; brief clinical interventions including CBT and Motivational Interviewing.
  • Excellent and timely documentation skills required.
  • The ideal candidate is able to make independent clinical decisions, while utilizing assistance and supervisory intervention, as needed.

VitalCore Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides crisis stabilization, intake evaluations, and ongoing clinical support within a multidisciplinary correctional health team. They are responsible for risk assessments, discharge planning, and maintaining accurate clinical documentation for the patient population.

Requirements

Candidates must hold at least a Bachelor's degree and possess or be actively working toward a substance use certification like CADC or CAADC. The role requires the ability to work flexible hours, including days, evenings, and weekends.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Substance Use CounselingIntake AssessmentCase ManagementInterdisciplinary CollaborationTreatment Planning

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 54% are remote, 34% have no call, 86% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Delaware is 99.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$62k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $62k in an average-cost state. 63.5% of Delaware clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

26 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution26 jobs · 13 employers

4
<$75k
4
$75k-85k
10
$85k-95k
3
$95k-105k
5
$105k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks23 jobs · 13 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
57%
CME allowance
17%
PSLF eligible
13%
Loan repayment
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LPCC, LPP, LCSW)

Gotham Enterprises · Nicholasville, Kentucky

$100k-$110k
#2

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT)

LifeStance Health · South Bend, Indiana

$84k-$107k
#3

Child and Adolescent Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT)

$84k-$107k
#4

Couples/Family Therapist (LMFT)

$84k-$107k
+ 24 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Addiction Medicine (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,292 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
VitalCore Health Strategies logo

About VitalCore Health Strategies

Hospitals and Health Care
Topeka, Kansas
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Holiday Pay (9 holidays)
Medical, dental, vision
Health Savings Account
Life Insurance
Short Term/Long Term Disability
Identity Theft Protection
Pet Insurance
Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center