Job Title: Substance Abuse Counselor / Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS)
Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Substance Abuse Counselor to provide comprehensive treatment and casework services to individuals receiving methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment. In this role, you will conduct patient intakes, clinical assessments, individual counseling sessions, and crisis interventions. Working as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team, you will design and implement individualized care plans, monitor patient progress through diagnostic data, and provide essential advocacy and education to support long-term recovery from opioid addiction.
Position Details
- Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
- Schedule: Regular day-shift working hours with requirement for in-office presence for team meetings and computer access.
- Travel: Travel may be required as necessary for casework and community coordination.
Candidate Requirements & Qualifications
Licensure & Certifications
- State Licensure: Must hold an active Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) credential in the state of North Carolina (or be actively in the process of obtaining this specific licensure). [Required]
- Emergency Care: Current certification in CPR and First Aid [Preferred].
Experience & Core Clinical Skills
- Population Experience: Proven experience working directly with an opioid-addicted/dependent population [Required].
- Clinical Assessments: Highly skilled in conducting comprehensive patient intakes, utilizing ASI (Addiction Severity Index) criteria for appropriate patient placement, and developing actionable treatment plans [Required].
- Intervention & Coordination: Strong background in service coordination, patient advocacy, and crisis intervention [Required].
- Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of local drug trends, the physical/cognitive effects of substance abuse, signs of narcotic overdose, the psychosocial implications of addictive disease, and intersecting legal, medical, and social service systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Clinical Counseling & Intake: Conduct patient intakes, orient new individuals to the program, and lead individual counseling sessions focusing on opioid addiction recovery and behavior modification.
- Assessment & Care Planning: Complete comprehensive clinical assessments and build tailored treatment plans in strict compliance with state Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) regulations.
- Documentation & Charting: Maintain accurate, timely patient files by documenting daily progress notes, interpretive summaries, transition plans, and discharge summaries, ensuring all counseling unit frequencies are fully met.
- Treatment Tracking & Compliance: File and review body specimen test results (UAs) to monitor treatment efficacy and assess patient eligibility for take-home medications; coordinate dose adjustments and step-level exceptions with medical professionals.
- Care Coordination & Advocacy: Act as a patient advocate and professional liaison with community and regulatory agencies (such as housing, food assistance, or probation/parole offices) to ensure holistic care.
- Team Collaboration: Actively participate in daily staff meetings, clinical supervision sessions, and continuous program evaluation efforts to enhance service quality.