Substance Abuse Counselor II / III (Outpatient)

Who is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Outpatient Counselor II staff responsibilities:

• Completing comprehensive assessments of clients’ substance abuse history and treatment requirements and preparing individualized, developmentally appropriate treatment plans
• Providing individual and group counseling and educational programs in accordance with treatment plans
• Documenting treatment and discharge plans and clients’ progress and responses to treatment, as well as maintaining related records and charts
• Performing case management and contributing to client care monitoring
• Caseload typically includes some complex cases requiring more intensive services
• Other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent education and life experience, with a minimum of 100 hours of documented clinical training in counseling theory and practice required
• Current certification as a substance abuse counselor (CADC) or higher licensure (LPC, LSW) in state of hire required
• Minimum 2 years of previous experience in substance abuse or mental health counseling required
• Related work experience with program specific population (adolescent/adult) and outpatient treatment setting required

Outpatient Counselor III staff responsibilities:

• Maintains complex caseload, including conducting comprehensive assessments, preparing individualized treatment plans. Maintains regular contact with insurance providers to report client treatment progress and obtain required certifications for continued stays. Reports caseload activities and progress to supervisor.
• Prepares and conducts group counseling or therapeutic encounter sessions to address specific social or psychological issue to promote the development of effective life skills to support a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
• Prepares and conducts individual counseling sessions to assist dual-diagnosis clients with overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making life changes.
• Develops and implements complex treatment and discharge plans for clients with dual diagnoses, social or mental health issues; and conducts intensive or comprehensive interventions (family or domestic violence counseling, etc.).
• Designs, implements, and integrates intensive service programs for the site to address particular social or psychological problems affecting portion of client population, e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault, grief, etc.
• Serves on variety of department or site committees necessary to plan and evaluate treatment programs and client services. Develops and contributes to improvement of treatment protocols, procedures and outcomes.
• Documents treatment plans, narrative progress notes, interventions, treatments, evaluations, discharge summaries, and treatment plan reviews. Maintains client records and charts to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual standards.
• Serves as a professional resource to clinical team by auditing client records to ensure compliance with required documentation and service delivery; provides assessments of special needs clients; and consults with clinical staff to resolve complex case problems by implementing case-appropriate procedures, modalities and techniques.
• Develops and conducts in-service and continuing education programs on subjects related to assigned specialty for other Counselors or Technicians.
• Performs other duties as they might be assigned, including providing clinical supervision to clinical team as needed.

Job Requirements:

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, substance use disorder counseling or related field
• Minimum of two (2) years counseling experience in the substance use disorder field or mental health field
• Current LPC or LSW valid in the state of Illinois

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to speak with others in order to exchange information and provide counseling.
• Ability to record and proofread information on forms and charts.
• Ability to respond to telephones and pages, and hear speech.
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data on a regular basis.

Compensation (based on experience and credentials):

• Counselor II: $25.64 - $32.28 per hour
• Counselor III: $51,463-82,330 annually
• Gateway Foundation conducts annual reviews including merit increases.

Benefits at Gateway Foundation:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.