Alto DUI Program Counselor

About Us:
At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day through these services we work to make health, education and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County. For more than 40 years our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health and regain dignity.

Summary:

We are currently recruiting for a Counselor II in Alto’s Drinking Driver Program in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.  The Drinking Driver Program is a great place to develop psychoeducational and group facilitation skills while working a flexible schedule.  This permanent position is benefits eligible working 32 hours per week.  We currently provide group counseling sessions and educational sessions for Wet Reckless, First Offense and Multiple Offense DUI programs.  Clients participate in our classes to work towards regaining their driver’s license.  We provide services in English and Spanish and staff work across both North and South County offices.  Additionally, most staff shifts occur M-Fri from 12 or later due to accommodating client schedules.  If you are an applicant that needs to be available for other needs during the day but need to work late afternoons or evenings, this position may be a good fit for you!

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct 1-2 hour psychoeducational counseling or education groups using the Drinking Driver Program curriculum and other evidenced based approaches.
• Conduct individual 15-minute counseling sessions as a check in regarding progress on the client’s program goals.
• Follow all documentation procedures including attendance, absences, chart notes, group notes, etc. in a timely manner
• Prepare for Group Sessions and Education Classes 15 minutes prior to start,
  • Review communiques to be handed out,
  • Ensure sign-in rosters are prepared, extra LOA and Progress Note forms on hand,
  • Prepare group room (seating arrangements, lighting, heating, A/C, etc.)
• Monitor clients to ensure they are complying to program conduct codes (loitering, smoking, bicycles in building, no food/drink, etc.)
• Support the administrative tasks of the program and documentation follow up as needed.

 Qualifications

• Active registration number as a drug and alcohol counselor with a DHCS approved counseling organization (CCAPP, CADTP) (proof of registration will be required upon hire)
• Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor preferred
• High school diploma or GED, some college in health and human services or addiction studies preferred (proof of education will be required upon hire)
• A minimum of 1 year of full-time experience (or 2080 hours) in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, preferably working in a counseling or treatment setting with clients struggling with substance use, mental health, and criminal justice system involvement
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Applicant must have active driver’s license and the ability to drive to and from the offices in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
• Candidate must be able to work in a telehealth setting (have a confidential space) and in an office setting during COVID-19
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Strong writing skills

Women, candidates of color, LGBTQIA identifying, and/or individuals with lived experience of behavioral health systems are highly encouraged to apply.

Wages & Benefits:

We prioritize the well-being of our team as much as the community we serve. Our comprehensive health benefits reflect this commitment. We offer full-time employees medical and dental insurance plan that ensures peace of mind for themselves and their families. We go beyond traditional care by also offering our employees acupuncture and chiropractic, embracing a holistic approach to health that aligns with our values of care and compassion.    

Our team’s future matters just as much as the present. That’s why we offer a 403(b) retirement plan, providing a foundation for a secure retirement. We also recognize the need for work-life balance, so Encompass offers a competitive package of 17 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 14 additional paid holidays. These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility. 

Encompass Community Services is committed to racial equity and standing against any kind of discrimination. We believe in having a diverse workforce that is representative of the many communities we serve. We strongly value providing equal opportunities for our employees, such as providing the training and education needed to excel in this and other positions.

Our agency recognizes the value of racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity and strives towards the overarching goal of ensuring that all services promote healing, and integrate the values and standards of providing culturally informed services.