Substance Use Counselor - Detention Center North

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Please apply by: Open until filled.

Salary Range: $53,102.00 to $71,089.00 per year. Hiring Range: $53,102.00 to $59,241.00. This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

Community Support Services (CSS) transforms lives and community by supporting veterans, ending homelessness, treating substance use, and preventing and intervening in community and domestic violence. As a department in Mecklenburg County’s Health and Human Services Agency, CSS maximizes community partnerships and collaborative opportunities to improve access to services and advocate for the needs of special populations.

Position Specific Information

This full time position is onsite at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center-North located at 5235 Spector Drive, Charlotte, NC 28269. The position hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Candidates are required to be credentialed or licensed with the NCASPPB including CADC, or LCAS. Provisionally certified and associate licensed individuals may be considered such as LCAS-A and CADC-INTERN status with the NCASPPB.

The candidate for this position will be responsible for providing treatment services (individual counseling, group counseling, facilitating screenings and assessments, and case management duties) following the 12 Core Functions of substance use counseling.

Selected candidate will be required to complete onboarding processes with both the County and with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). This includes the ability to obtain and maintain facility access to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center as a contingency of employment.

Community Support Services positions: This position performs key job functions at a community partner work site. Employment in this position is conditional upon following all policies and procedures of the community partner host agency and adhering to all requirements that the community partner agency has established to grant and maintain physical and/or virtual access to the work site. If access is revoked, employment will be terminated.

Position Summary

Provide counseling to individuals with various substance use and mental health issues. This position, with a high degree of latitude, is responsible for providing general counseling, developing person-centered plans, and providing educational lectures based on the 12 core functions of substance use counseling.

Essential Functions

• Provide substance use services based on the 12 core functions of substance use counseling
• Provide individual and group counseling
• Assist with the development of the client’s person-centered plan and monitor progress
• Complete documentation in accordance with Federal, state and county policies
• Participate in clinical supervision
• Provide didactic education on recovery related topics
• Generate letters on behalf of clients to verify participation in treatment
• Conduct random urine drug screens or Breathalyzer tests
• Complete Incident Reports as needed
• Maintain client record
• Work on an interdisciplinary team and communicate daily with the team

May be required to staff shelters in the event of a disaster or assist with other mass care duties in the event of an emergency

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Minimum of three years of experience in substance abuse counseling.

Education: Bachelor's Degree in a human services field.

Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted: Yes

Licenses and Certifications

Certified as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board. Provisionally certified and associate licensed individual may be considered.

• Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License.
• Requires ability to obtain and maintain Mecklenburg County Driving Privileges.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous work experience in a criminal justice setting highly preferred.

Full CADC certification or full LCAS licensure with the NCASPPB preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, Mecklenburg County offers a generous benefits package which greatly increases your total compensation. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, short term disability, long term disability, accident, cancer, critical illness, medical bridge and pet insurance; dependent care, healthcare and commuter flexible spending accounts; health savings account; paid holiday, vacation and sick days; near site clinics for preventive care and illnesses; an employee assistance program including financial and legal counseling; access to Mecklenburg County fitness and aquatic facilities; paid family leave; tuition reimbursement; a 5% employer match on retirement savings plan contributions and a defined benefit plan for retirement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge Of

• Adult mental health/substance use treatment philosophies and practices, assessments, services, programs and standards/criteria
• Basic psychopharmacology
• Person-centered planning treatment modalities
• Recovery models
• Motivational interviewing techniques
• Problem solving techniques
• Crisis intervention methods
• Conflict resolution techniques
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines
• Individual rights
• Individual choice
• Case management principles and practices

Skills

• Managing a caseload
• Determining effective intervention techniques for individuals
• Using a computer and related software applications
• Accessing community resources
• Developing networks with other providers

Abilities

Applied Learning: Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner

Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that instills confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization

Care Management: Having the knowledge and skills to secure relevant client care data and identify key issues and relationships in the management of client care; understanding the relationships among assessments, interventions, and client responses; skilled in documentation of assessments and adjusting interventions as needed

Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided

Client Education/Health Promotion: Supporting, explaining, and instructing client and client’s family (significant other, care giver, etc.) in understanding the clinical procedures and equipment used to facilitate optimum health status; promoting the lifestyle changes required of the client and the client’s family to achieve optimum health status

Client Relations: Meeting client and client family needs; taking responsibility for a client’s safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult client situations and regain client confidence

Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently

Computer Skills

Proficient in various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.