LifeWorks NW is a private, non-profit organization providing prevention, mental health, substance use treatment, and related social services to youths, adults, and older adults in over fifteen locations throughout Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. LifeWorks NW promotes a healthy community by providing quality and culturally responsive mental health and addiction services across the lifespan.

Our core values-Recovery and Relationships, Resilience, and Results-inform the work we do. The four pillars of the strategic vision include Compassionate, Impactful Care, Holistic Health, Passionate Team, and Thriving Organization. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are critical to successfully achieving the mission. We know that "life works" when people get the help they need and are dedicated to changing lives.

The On Call, Chemical Dependency Counselor provides substance abuse treatment services in outpatient or residential settings.  Responsible for assessment, treatment planning, provision of counseling (individual, family, and group) services, urinalysis, consultation with care providers and coordination of multiple service providers for his/her assigned client caseload; and for keeping accurate, timely records.

Working Conditions

Primarily works at a site or clinic. May be eligible for hybrid or remote work schedule based on programmatic requirements and client needs. Supervisor approval for remote work required.

As a behavioral health organization, LifeWorks NW employees are required to have had their COVID 19 vaccination (or have an approved medical/religious exemption) per State of Oregon rules. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required upon hire. 

Location: This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Milwaukie International Way site. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:  (These responsibilities must be able to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.)

• Responsible for client evaluation including initial intake interview, formulating a substance abuse diagnosis, identifying appropriate treatment services.  Notify client, significant other(s), care givers and care providers of diagnosis and initial treatment recommendations in a timely manner, complete written narrative of evaluation, obtain necessary authorizations for disclosure. 
• Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, urinalysis, and other assessment methods.  Observe and evaluate client's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Analyze data such as interview notes, test results, and reference manuals to identify symptoms and to diagnose the nature of clients' substance abuse problems and determine an ASAM PPC-2R level of care.
• Identify and diagnose substance abuse disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, and reference materials.  Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements. Provide accurate screenings for mental health, health, gambling, trauma and domestic violence issues, and make referrals to appropriate services providers as necessary.
• Provide referral services to clients and their families, e.g., residential services, health care, mental health services, employment services, housing, recovery support services, etc.  Maintain awareness of community referral resources. 
• Develop therapeutic Individual Service and Support Plans (ISSP), based on clients' interests, abilities, strengths and clinical needs. ISSP's will be evidence-based, using clinical experience and knowledge, and will have measurable goals and objectives based on the diagnosis and will specify type, frequency, intensity, and duration of services. Treatment plans will client-driven and follow-ups will be completed on time, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
• Confer with clients, significant others and treatment team to develop plans for post treatment activities to maintain recovery. 
• Counsel individuals or families, using evidence-based treatment practices, to help them understand problems, define goals, and develop realistic action plans. Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for resolving substance abuse problems. 
• Facilitate or co-facilitate group treatment services, using evidence-based/manualized treatment models with demonstrated effectiveness for the population served.  Demonstrate proficiency in using evidence-based practices, as evidenced by observation, fidelity rating scales, client report, and client outcomes.
• May be responsible for service coordination.  Coordinate/collaborate with physicians, staff, families, caregivers, referents, etc.  Maintain chart notes related to external contracts, obtaining pertinent records from other treatment and tracking clients' involvement, followthrough and progress in varied treatment activities.  Provides regular and timely progress reports to referents when appropriate.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, ASAM PPC-2R dimensions, modifying plans and diagnoses as necessary.  ISSP's must be updated at least every three months. Behavioral Health Assessments must be updated at least annually.
• Document and maintain client records in electronic healthcare system within 24 hours of meeting with client to ensure compliance with agency and contract guidelines and confidentiality. 
• Provide training to staff, caregivers, and family regarding issues of substance abuse as it relates to clients.
• Provide crisis intervention. May serve as Clinician of the Day.
• Serve as back-up for other staff when needed.
• Administer and submit urinalyses with minimal errors.  Evaluate and communicate results within agency guidelines.
• Check e-mail/voice mail throughout the day when working responding appropriately.
• Provides culturally appropriate resources and support linkage, advocacy and community collaboration as well as evaluation and treatment for clients. 
• May need to travel between sites or in the community.
• May need to work some evenings.
• Meets performance standards for direct service, documentation (including progress notes, assessments, ISSP's, status reports, and authorization requests) proficiency in clinical model and evidence based practices, quality of care (including engagement and retention) and teamwork as defined in the Performance Review.
• Participate in regular individual and team meetings with supervisor.  Attend informational and clinical meetings which may include all staff and team meetings, consultation with other staff and required trainings.

Work Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to clients.  Responsible for rendering assistance to clean up duties involving the bodily fluids spill kit.

Communicating with Supervisors and Peers - Providing information to supervisors and co workers by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering and maintaining information in written or electronic form.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. 

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

REQUIREMENTS:  (Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for qualifications.  Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each task proficiently.)

• If recovering from a substance abuse related disorder, must be able to demonstrate continuous sobriety under nonresidential, independent living conditions for the immediate past two years.
• Requires a current CADC 1 or equivalent national certification; or a submitted application for CADC 1 with a formal plan to obtain certification within two years of hire.
• Have knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrating competence in:  treatment of substance related disorders including client evaluation and individual, group, family, and other counseling techniques; program policies and procedures for client case management and record keeping; and accountability for recording information in the client files assigned to them consistent with those policies and procedures.  Should be familiar with theory or concepts of prevention.
• If working in a culturally focused program must have:  demonstrated understanding of cultural values and norms, acculturation and generational issues within a culture; extensive knowledge and understanding of resources and appropriate support linkage available within the community; effective inner-cultural communication skills in order to advocate for culturally diverse clients.
• If working with youth, courses in child development and experience working with youth strongly preferred.
• Sensitivity and understanding of specific barriers which may lead to lack of access and engagement. 
• Good computer skills including a functional knowledge of Microsoft Outlook and Word.  Ability to master proprietary software including electronic health record system.
• Requires ability to work evenings and/or weekends, depending on the particular work assignment
• Requires access to a car and valid driver's license.
• Ability to perform essential functions of job without creating a direct threat to the safety of self or others.

Knowledge

Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of substance abuse disorders, including evidence-based practices for effective treatment

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. 

Law and Government - Knowledge of applicable laws and Oregon Administrative Rules relating to mental health and substance abuse treatment services

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records.

Sociology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Skills

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. 

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Equal Opportunity Employer

www.lifeworksnw.org

Drug Free/Tobacco Free Site 01/09