ApplyJob TypeFull-timeDescriptionJob Title: Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee/Intern (Must have WA State SUDP or SUDPT license)Days Off: Saturday, SundayShift: Day (9am - 5pm)Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term DisabilityOther Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan About DESC: DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.As the region's leading provider of services to clients with complex behavioral and physical conditions who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 2,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION

The Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee (SUDPT) trains under a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUD) who works cooperatively with agency staff & community resources to provide a range of services to clients with drug & alcohol problems. Many clients have a sustained and/or complicated substance abuse history in addition to their co-occurring mental disorder. Often people suffering from mental illness who lack access to psychiatric treatment, attempt to self-medicate with street drugs or alcohol to lessen the symptoms. The ability to provide highly integrated services to people with concurrent mental health and substance use concerns is rare among homeless service providers. At DESC, our network of clinical services allows counselors to work in coordination with mental health case managers in both the emergency shelter and in supportive housing projects so that services meet clients at their current level and offer the support that can lead to significant change.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform alcohol and drug assessments, and intake evaluations on selected clients; with the client's participation, develop support and treatment plans; facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
• Plan, organize and facilitate treatment and support groups for clients, as appropriate.
• Provide substance abuse consultation to Mental Health Program and Housing Program staff.
• Provide staff training on substance abuse issues as appropriate.
• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing ongoing advocacy and integration of services to mentally ill, homeless and formerly homeless adults.
• Advocate for client access to community resources and services, ensuring that client needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
• Comply with data gathering/submission requirements of DESC and reimbursement agencies.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

UNIT MITIGATION:

Participate in the planning, organizing and facilitating of unit mitigations for clients on your caseload. Unit mitigations are coordinated efforts to support clients with maintaining healthy living conditions. This can include but is not limited to attending care conferences related to unit mitigation, outreaching and supporting clients in their residential units with tools and skills to maintain their units, coordinating with Housing staff to ensure proper work orders are filed in a timely manner, participating in cleaning out clients' units, and documenting barriers to unit mitigation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Active SUDPT or SUDP license with the WA State Department of Health
• For SUDPT: Attested to the WA State Department of Health that the applicant is currently enrolled in an educational program to meet the educational requirements of a SUDP. The requirement for full licensure is an Associates Degree.
• For SUDP: Licensed by the state of Washington as Substance Use Disorder Professional and any other government-required certification, registration or license as may be appropriate.
• Interest or experience in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.
• Bi-cultural and/or bilingual background/experience preferred.
• Experience working with adults experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness preferred.

Salary Description$71,662.56 - $79,131.12 annually