Co-Occurring Disorders Specialist

The Co Occurring Disorders Specialist supports clients receiving PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) services who are experiencing both mental health and substance use issues. This role provides supportive counseling, case management, and psychoeducation around substance use using a stage based treatment model that is non confrontational and built on client determined goals. Treatment is provided primarily in the community at a location that best meets the needs of the clients served.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide case management, engagement and motivational enhancement strategies, problem solving, and relapse prevention for an assigned group of clients.
• Serves as the team’s subject matter expert on co occurring disorders
• Conducts comprehensive substance use and readiness to change assessments within the context of serious mental illness
• Provide psychoeducation that considers the relationship between substance use and mental health.
• Apply stages of change and functional analysis to inform treatment planning, ensuring immediate changes are made in the treatment plans as clients’ needs change
• Educate and support clients’ families, and advocate for clients’ rights and preferences
• Provide on call coverage for PACT clients, including responding to after hours phone calls, triaging mental health crises, consulting with the Team Leader or crisis staff as needed, and coordinating in person crisis response or emergency services when clinically indicated, with timely documentation of all actions taken.
• Assist clients with activities of daily living through ongoing assessment, problem solving, side by side services, skill training, and environmental adaptations.
• Provide individual supportive therapy, social skill development, and assertiveness training to increase client social and interpersonal activities in community settings.
• Continually monitor clients’ co occurring disorders symptoms and clients’ response to treatment.
• Provide consultation and informal supervision to PACT team members regarding substance use, harm reduction, and engagement strategies
• Provide direct clinical services including individual supportive counseling to clients on an individual, group, and family basis to teach behavioral symptom management techniques to identify and manage symptoms and to promote personal growth by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with stresses.
• Collaborate with detox, inpatient, outpatient SUD providers, probation/parole, and medical providers. Assist clients with engagement in higher levels of care when clinically indicated (detox, inpatient, medication assisted treatment)
• Support the team in responding to substance related crises, including relapse, overdose risk, and substance driven psychiatric destabilization
• Organize and lead individual and group recreational activities to structure clients’ time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills and receive feedback and support.
• Support continuity of care during hospitalizations, incarcerations, or treatment transitions
  
  

Qualifications

Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements

The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet or more of the physical requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements

This position normally requires that physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring low physical exertion, talking and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 80% of the time. Position also requires ability to drive with adequate vision and skill.

Non-Physical Requirements

Qualifications for candidates hired at the MHP level: $84,800 to $95,400 per year

• Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), Marriage & Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA), Independent Clinical Social Work Associate (LICSWA), or Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC) in Washington State
  
  

Qualifications for candidates hired at the licensed level: $90,100 to $100,700 per year

• Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) license in Washington State
  
  

Minimum Requirements For All Candidates

Education

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related behavioral science field leading to eligibility for clinical licensure
• Additional education, coursework, or training in substance use disorders preferred
  
  

Experience

• Prior experience providing behavioral health treatment to individuals with active substance use disorders required
  
  

Special Skills

• Familiarity with harm reduction principles, motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, and Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT)
• Strong treatment planning skills
• Possess and utilize effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to be self-motivated, and work both independently and as a team member
• Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner within the community
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses
• Respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment
  
  

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Valid Washington State driver’s license and minimum required liability insurance for WA State
• Must be deemed insurable as determined by Catholic Charities liability insurance provider
• License or credential that denotes MHP (Mental Health Professional) designation in the State of Washington, including Mental Health Counselor or Associate (LMHC or LMHCA), Independent Clinical Social Worker or Associate (LICSW or LICSWA), Marriage & Family Therapist or Associate (LMFT or LMFTA), or Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC)
• Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) license in WA State or Co-Occurring Disorder Specialist Enhancement to a qualifying clinical license preferred
  
  

Employment Is Conditional Upon

• Being cleared by a criminal background check and fingerprinting when required.
  
  

Wage Range: $84,800 - $100,700 per year, depending on experience and credentialsWork Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 7am to 6pmRelocation Assistance: Up to $5,000 for relocations over 50 milesBenefits:

• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave per year
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
• Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
• Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment
  
  

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.