Substance Use Disorder Professional/Trainee

AOD

Cedar Wellness Center is a Tribally owned clinic that treats a diverse population of patients, including Native and Non-Native people. We have the opportunity to provide whole person care, while managing patient substance use disorders, primary care, infectious disease, and mental health needs. We are building a team of dedicated and compassionate individuals.

Cedar Wellness Center brings an innovative model of highly individualized, compassionate care to patients with opioid use disorder. From the moment someone walks through the door of our state-of-the-art outpatient facility, they will encounter our thoughtfulness and intention for a humanizing and respectful experience with us. The comforting and safe setting of our nature-inspired facility and the friendly, professional attitude of our staff help to define our journey with each patient—and with each other—from day one.

Each employee at Cedar Wellness Center creates their own ripple effect in the larger circles of the families and communities that we touch. Are you ready to make a difference with us?

We are currently seeking a Substance Use Disorder Counselor to support our clinic in Tacoma, WA. This position, reporting to the Clinic Supervisor, is an excellent opportunity for someone excited to make an immediate and lasting impact in a growing company.

Position Overview:

The Substance Use Disorder Professional/Trainee will be a source of kindness and empathy for patients who are trying to find their way to a better life. Cedar Wellness Center treats patients with respect and honors their efforts to improve their health. To win in this health care crisis, we understand that we are in the trenches with those who are struggling, but the battle is theirs. We are here to empower them and to be a source of positivity. But we do not impose our values, and we do not force change. Cedar Wellness Center embraces motivational interviewing and a harm reduction philosophy. We believe in being nice and optimistic, and we also practice scientific rigor. The ideal candidate will be a team player who is ready to jump into new challenges and opportunities, loves learning new things, and is interested in cross-training opportunities.

We are looking for a Substance Use Disorder Professional/Trainee who understands how a good opioid treatment program fits within the broader community and who wants to help to build a compassionate community within our clinic. Are you ready to make a difference one person at a time?

Primary Duties:

• Report directly to the Clinical Supervisor.
• Provide treatment in individual and group settings for individuals and families of individuals with substance use disorder.
• Provide treatment according to the Cedar Wellness Center model.
• Answer telephone calls requesting information about addiction or treatment. Assist in scheduling treatment appointments or help with appropriate referral.
• When authorized by the Clinic Director, disseminate substance use disorder information to the community.
• Assist in intake of patients and scheduling of appointments.
• Prepare, maintain, and file charts.
• Assume a rotation on the on-call schedule.
• Adhere to personnel policies and clinical protocols.
• Utilize a compassionate and goal-oriented approach and employ therapeutic techniques that help our patients improve their ability to manage their emotions, enhance their communication skills, and develop more effective coping skills.
• Utilize literature, workshops, and other training aids to continually improve clinical and administrative skills.
• Evaluate patient needs and determine course of treatment (including additional referrals to other programs or facilities as needed) conduct follow-up assessments and engage patients in developing their own individualized treatment plan.
• Work in collaboration with clinical and medical staff and patients in developing treatment goals and provision of necessary services based upon medical necessity.
• Communicate with medical staff regarding a patient’s condition including status of referrals, receipt of treatment documentation, and patient response to care provided by medical team.
• Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment, and incidents is clear, concise, and completed in a timely manner.
• Communicate with administrative staff regarding patient insurance, Medi-Cal, and third-party payor.
• Participate in individual and group supervision.
• Facilitate group and individual counseling sessions.

• Plan for aftercare and support to patients in effort to maintain a substance-free lifestyle.
• Treat all patients with dignity, courtesy, and respect, recognizing their right to have requests, needs, and complaints responded to in a professional and timely manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• A Substance Use Disorder Professional applicant must have an associate degree in human services or related field, or successful completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits in courses from an approved school.
• A Substance Use Disorder Trainee applicant must be enrolled in an approved school and gaining the experience required to receive a substance use disorder professional certification.

Must be registered or certified with Washington DOH.

• Prior training in counseling or addiction treatment.
• History of performing in a professional capacity.
• Willing to follow Cedar Wellness Center personnel policies.
• Able to work the hours and days required by position, including daily 5:30 am start times.
• Be willing to learn and able to deliver evidence-based practices in the treatment of substance use disorders.
• Ability to provide health and TB clearance.
• Must pass background check and urine drug screen.

Skills & Abilities:

• Proficient in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and other evidence-based practices, including medications for addiction treatment.
• Passion for working with people, even on tough days.
• Ability to treat everyone like they are the only person in the room.
• Good listener.
• Welcoming of differences and diversity.
• Ability to work independently and to thrive as part of a team.
• Ability to take direction and receive constructive feedback.
• Power to stay calm, focused, and kind in stressful situations.
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Reliable.
• Flexibility, versatility, and willingness to jump into new situations and challenges.
• Humility.
• Willingness to share your opinion.
• Courage to stand up for your beliefs.
• Ability to help create a safe environment for patients and staff.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to keyboard or type, handle materials used in performing the essential functions of the classification, and reach with hands and arms. The employee will be asked to perform repetitive behaviors (e.g., typing and data entry). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds (think boxes of paper). Specific vision abilities required by this classification include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing abilities required by this classification includes those which permit the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively in person, by telephone. While performing the duties of this classification, the employee works in an office setting where the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee must also analyze and evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action.

Why Work for Us?

At Cedar Wellness Center, we share a journey—with patients, our coworkers, and the many communities of which we are a part. Our work is to build connections with individuals and families and to save lives in the process. The cedar tree is flexible in the wind, making it almost impossible to break. It is a symbol of strength and an ancient resource for longboats and shelter. We see these elements coming together in Cedar Wellness—a place that honors the strength that it requires for patients to get help and the adaptability and courage it takes to join them on their journey to recovery.

We support our team through a competitive salary and benefits package and opportunities for continuing education and professional advancement. Cedar Wellness Center staff will also be cross trained to meet the needs of patients and to make each day a success. On-the-job training will empower team members, as we believe the excellence of the clinic and the professional development of our staff complement one another.