The Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center is seeking a substance abuse counselor to provide substance abuse and mental health services for adult clients who are in various stages of change regarding recognition and treatment of substance use disorders. Primary focus is to reduce relapse and recidivism through assessment, engagement, education, and person center care in an inpatient setting that provides forensic mental health evaluations, care and treatment. The substance use counselor collaborates with members of a multidisciplinary team refers individuals with substance use issues to community-based care upon discharge. The Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental health Center, (Fuller) 60 bed inpatient psychiatric facility provides comprehensive, information and timely forensic evaluations for individuals to determine pre-trial competency and or criminal responsibility. We also provide quality, integrated care to support an individual’s recovery process through ongoing psychiatric treatment and care.

Duties and Responsibilities: (these are a general summary and not all inclusive)

• Provides skilled substance use screening and assessments to individuals served, utilizing clinical interviews with individuals, families, significant others and community providers (with appropriate authorization), review of collateral information including medical records, police and court documents and observation of the individual.
• Engages with individuals served, clarifies the individual’s goals and readiness for change, and develops person centered goals and interventions for inclusion in the person’s treatment and recovery care plan.
• Collaborates with the individual served and with members of the person’s multidisciplinary treatment team in order to develop a care plan that is based on individual strengths, needs, goals and aspirations.
• Provides direct individual counseling to support clients in addressing issues of substance use and the effects of substances in their lives.
• Develops and provides direct group education and recovery services to clients with Substance Use/Mental Health and Co-occurring disorders.
• Documents substance use screening, assessment, treatment plan goals and interventions, and individual and group services using the Electronic Medical Record.
• Collaborates with assigned clinical social worker, and other treatment team members, in identification and accessing community-based substance abuse services (inclusive of Acute Residential, Sober Living, Intensive Outpatient Support, Outpatient substance use/mental health services, and self-help groups).

• Knowledge of addiction and evidence based practices for assessment/treatment including: Motivational interviewing, Stages of Change, Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, and Mutual-help meetings.
• Knowledge and understanding of Cultural diversity in implementation of substance use and mental health treatment program Ability to work independently and demonstrate creativity in promoting and advancing program initiatives.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and respect for all clients and to integrate client’s strengths, goals and aspirations in treatment planning.
• Demonstrates skill in report writing and documentation.
• Demonstrates knowledge of professional and ethical standards.
• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate treatment programs.

• Broad knowledge and experience in working with diverse client populations who have SU/MH and/or COD issues.
• Experienced in assessing SU/MH and/or COD and providing individual counseling and recovery based groups in an inpatient unit.
• Ability to develop and conduct educational trainings on SU/MH and/or COD License Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or eligible for licensure within two years of hire.
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

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