SUD Outpatient and In Custody Counselor/Clinician

Job Summary:

We currently have a benefited full-time (32 hours/week) opening for a SUD Counselor/Clinician with our SUD Outpatient program with sites across North and South County.

The ALTO Counselor will have a shared responsibility (approximately 70%) for maintaining a caseload of individual clients and facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting. Caseload responsibilities include: individual intakes and ASAM assessments, individual SUD-focused counseling sessions, problem list development and reassessments, treatment planning, care coordination, and discharge/aftercare planning. The position is primarily a Drug Medi-Cal position and regularly uses an electronic health record to complete Medi-Cal and other funder billing, with productivity billing requirements.

The ALTO Counselor will also have a shared responsibility (approximately 30%, or 10 hours) position with the local corrections department serving our in-custody population. The In Custody Counselor will be responsible for facilitating evidence-based curriculum in a group setting in person at various jail sites, maintaining group charts, and engaging in background checks and clearance trainings.

This is a unique position that is not often vacant and provides an opportunity to work with an experienced team of counselors, clinicians, peers, and medical providers who specialize in substance use disorder and co-occurring disorder treatment. This clinical track position supports an active pathway towards CADTP certification and BBS licensure (LCSW, LMFT or LPCC).  Clinical supervision is provided by the agency to gain hours towards licensure. 

Encompass is committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the diversity and native languages of our community. Women, candidates of color, LGBTQIA identifying, and/or individuals with lived experience of behavioral health systems are highly encouraged to apply. Spanish-speaking providers encouraged to apply.

Primary Responsibilities:

All Staff

Team Collaboration

• Work alongside licensed medical providers, SUD counselors, and behavioral health professionals within and outside the outpatient program to complement traditional treatment approaches.
• Attend and contribute to team planning meetings, uplifting the clients’ voice in decision-making.
• Participate in team trainings, supervision, and reflective practice.
• Endorse structural wellbeing of the program by committing to safety, workflows, and collaborative team decision-making

 Professionalism and Documentation

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in various systems as required and achieve productivity requirements.
• Demonstrate organization, clear task completion, and strong communication across cultures and identities with supervisor support on strategies for adherence.
• Model positive relationships, respectful boundaries, and maintain a safe and supportive environment.
• Use trauma-informed methodology to perform toxicology screenings and relay/collect data

ALTO SUD OP Counselor

• Manage and maintain individual caseload of clients; number of clients determined by billing productivity and attendance
• Provide individual sessions and group counseling for clients with substance use disorder
• Meet weekly billable units of service (hourly) requirements for Medi-Cal billing
• Conduct assessments using the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and Feedback Informed Treatment models
• Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans that are dictated by the ASAM assessment  
• Maintain up to date on chart documentation
• Provide case management and coordination to link and support clients with various resources
• Develop and provide discharge planning sessions with clients as treatment comes to closure
• Other duties as assigned

ALTO SUD In-Custody Counselor

• Attend corrections training as assigned to maintain access to jail sites
• Facilitate approximately 2 in person groups to our in-custody population
• Manage and maintain charting and data reporting requirements
• Develop and maintain individualized intake consents, treatment plans, and success surveys
• Maintain up to date on chart documentation
• Coordinate regularly with Jail program staff, Lead Clinician, and Program Manager
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Registered or certified drug and alcohol counselor with one of the three state-approved accredited organizations (CADTP, CAADE, CCAPP) or active registration as an Associate with BBS.
  • Agency can support registration pursuit and initial fees. Ongoing requirements for education and certification must be funded by staff.
• Applicant must have active driver’s license and the ability to drive to and from the offices in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
• Applicant must submit appropriate background check clearance and be able to pass Santa Cruz County jail clearance to provide in-custody services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English and Spanish with ability to conduct clinical treatment in Spanish, including written treatment planning.
• Experience with evidenced based practice for Substance Use Disorder treatment services, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
• One year experience providing counseling treatment services (group and individual) – master’s level internship hours may count towards experience.
• Experience with criminal justice population preferred.
• Experience with telehealth platforms and practices is preferred.
• Strong computer literacy, experience with AVATAR preferred
• Strong writing skills and communication skills

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 11 vacation days, 15 additional paid holidays, and 12 sick days. These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility. 

Compensation 

• Pay is dependent on experience and education, ranging from $28-31 per hour.
• Employee Assistance Program  
• Ongoing training opportunities to support professional development 
• Vacation, Sick, and Holiday PTO

About Us:
Encompass Community Services is the largest provider of health and human services in Santa Cruz County. We have been delivering culturally appropriate and evidence-based safety net services to our community for nearly 50 years. As a health equity organization, Encompass is committed to providing everyone in the community with access to the high-quality health and human services they need and deserve to enjoy the benefit of a long and healthy life. We operate nearly 40 programs providing a wide range of services related to family and social well-being, behavioral health, housing and more.

Salary : $28 - $31