Chemical Dependency Counselor 2, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience

Job Overview

As one of the oldest medical schools in the country, the UC College of Medicine has a reputation for training best-in-class health care professionals and developing cutting-edge procedures and research that improves the health and clinical care of patients.

The College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience is looking for a Chemical Dependency Counselor II to work in the Addiction Sciences Division. This position will support the University’s mission and commitment to excellence in our students, faculty, staff and all our activities. Classification and salary will be commensurate with experience.

The Addiction Sciences Division, within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, represents a collaborative effort among the University of Cincinnati, UC Health, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati. Our mission is to discover and refine medical and scientific knowledge and translate it via education, training, and dissemination into high quality, evidence-based treatments for peoples suffering from addiction-related conditions. Addiction Science Division research is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with some clinical trial support from the pharmaceutical industry.

The Chemical Dependency Counselor II will provide outpatient substance use and mental health services. The Addiction Sciences Chemical Dependency Counselor will primarily provide assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual and group therapies while meeting all standards of practice as required. This position will also provide case management services as needed.

Essential Functions

• Provide psychosocial assessments of patients and families to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and problems related to their diagnosis, illness, treatment, and/or life situation.
• Provide education to patients and families around issues related to adaptation to the patient's illness and/or life situation; may utilize crisis intervention, brief and long-term individual, group, and family therapies.
• Provide therapy through face-to-face sessions.
• Collaborate with counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, social workers and other appropriate treatment team members in diagnostic formulation, treatment direction, and recommendations.
• Maintain knowledge of external resources for patient needs to foster recovery.
• Liaison with community agencies; participate in area activities related to substance use disorders.
• Ensure that patient care documentation is timely, legible, and efficient. Documentation should be concise, pertinent, and meet the profession and department's documentation standards. Oral reporting should be clear, concise, relevant, and timely.
• Perform all required data collection for the department accurately and within expected time frame.
• Participate in departmental meetings, quality improvement efforts, and make sure peer review standards are met. Maintain current licensure, participate in clinical supervision and continuing education, and meet competency skills for evaluations in area of practice.
• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with HIPAA policies, CFR-42 Part 2 confidentiality policies, documentation guidelines, and other related regulatory requirements, in accordance with all Federal, State, Local laws, and UC Policies and Procedures.
• Keep current with health care developments in professional field, and seek to increase further enhancement of job-related knowledge, both internally and externally.
• Provide education on substance-related topics to other health care professionals.
• Serve as a peer-mentor within the department, supporting management and in various responsibilities as appropriate including the development of less experienced team members.
• Contribute to the development of new processes, procedures, tools, and training to enhance clinical activities, compliance and efficiency.
• May serve as a resource person or act as a consultant within area of clinical expertise.
• May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.).
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

Associate's Degree in Behavioral Health, Nursing, Social Work, Addictions, or related field.

Required Trainings/Certifications

Any of the following: LCDC-II, LCDC-III, LICDC, LICDC-CS or equivalent.

Required Experience

One (1) year of work experience relating to behavioral health, social work, addictions, or related field.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Strong background in treating individuals with substance use disorders in group and individual settings
• Experience working with clients on Medication Assisted Treatment such as Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Naltrexone
• Knowledge of various forms of community-based support

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Hearing, listening - Continuously
• Talking - Continuously
• Sitting - Often
• Repetitive hand motion (such as typing) - Often
• Standing - Often
• Walking - Often
• Bending - Seldom
• Climbing stairs/ladders - Seldom
• Kneeling, squatting - Seldom
• Pulling, pushing - Seldom
• Reaching overhead - Seldom
• Stooping - Seldom
• Lifting - up to 20 pounds - Seldom
• Lifting - up to 50 pounds - Seldom
• Lifting - over 50 pounds - Seldom