Weingart Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is hiring for a Substance Abuse Counselor - STOP.
Weingart Center's programs provides safe and secure shelter, meals, case management and mental health services on a 24-hour basis for adults experiencing homelessness. Our multiple sites throughout the Los Angeles area incorporates low barrier, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction policies and procedures into their program design and housing operations.
STOP (Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming) is designed for individuals under parole supervision, requiring referral from a parole officer or the Amity Foundation. This comprehensive program, with a maximum stay of 180 days (extendable), offers housing, education, vocational training, and job placement. Services include individual and group counseling, specialized groups for substance use and life skills, along with referrals to supportive services, a mandatory savings program, and transportation assistance.
This is an on-site, in office position.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE, but are not limited to following:
· Refer to the Program Manager (PM) issues that are not resolved at the case management level; coordinate with the PR and the Parole Agent Liaison in matters pertaining to medical, disciplinary and program progress.
· Notify the Counseling Supervisor and the Parole Agent Liaison of any problems/issues involving any program or parolee-participant services/treatment plan.
· Prepare an initial needs assessment for each parolee-participant, considering the participant’s physical, mental, emotional and social services needs; skill and literacy level; and substance abuse status and needs.
· Develop goals and objectives with each client based on initial assessments (i.e., develop appropriate transition plans and help the client with all aftercare services).
· Properly document all work in the client files using customized computer-based software (i.e., CaseTrack).
· Network with other social service agencies and other WCA programs and make appropriate referrals and follow up to assure delivery of service.
· Conduct individual and small group counseling sessions; participate in and facilitate large group counseling sessions as required.
· Conduct workshops including but not limited to relapse prevention, self-help skills, and money management for their clients.
· Confer with Clinical Services Director on a regular basis to assess client’s participation and revise service plan as necessary.
· May present cases at a weekly case review meeting with the Clinical Director.
· Provide ongoing problem-solving support for clients.
· Compile statistics as determined by Clinical Director.
· Review with the Program Manager and the Parole Agent Liaison the parolee-participant’s services/treatment plan. Prepare evaluation/transition plans five days prior to the participant’s completion of the residential and/or aftercare phase of the program.
· Provide aftercare service to parolee-participants according to the contract agreement.
· Work cooperatively as a member of the Clinical Services Department.
· Serve as a member of the Casework Team.
· Work effectively with co-workers, clients and others by sharing ideas in a constructive and positive manner; keeping commitments; informing others of work progress, timetables and appropriate issues in a constructive manner; and respecting the diversity of our work force in actions, words and deeds.
· The Counselor provides high quality services and is responsible for the overall documentation and maintenance of client records. The Counselor will also be responsible for tracking the progress of clients for an extended period of time (up to six months or longer).
· Report for work as scheduled.
· And other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
· Must be empathetic and have excellent listening skills.
· Extensive knowledge of social service, welfare, legal, corrections, health care, substance abuse, alcoholism, mental health care, and other systems associated with target population.
· Good listening skills are essential. Clear, complete speech and communication skills.
· Ability to advocate successfully on behalf of the client.
· Ability to travel to various locations to provide outreach services for 65-75% of the work day.
EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
· Current CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) issued by the California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors, RAS (Registered Addiction Specialist), CAS (Certified Addiction Specialist), CAADE required. Bachelor's degree in Human Services is not a substitute for certification requirement.
· A minimum of 2 years experience working in the field of social services with a criminal justice population. Experience in substance abuse, mental health and dual diagnosis treatment and service delivery. Some education may be substituted for experience.
· B.A degree preferred.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
1. Standing and sitting for long periods of time along with being able to move and walk to various locations; climbing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pulling, pushing, bending, twisting, and lifting (20-25lbs.).
2. Seeing in general, close vision, general hearing and listening, clear speech, touching, dexterity (hand and finger).
3. Complex reading skills, complex writing skills, clerical abilities, memorization skills, analyzing, perception and comprehension, math skills, judgment and decision-making capability.
4. Ability to work alone, work with others, work around others, have verbal contact with others, face to face contact, work inside, work outside, work in confined areas, work with noise, work with and around fumes/odors.
5. Weingart Center no longer requires (though highly recommends) position incumbent to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined and mandated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Department of Health Services of Los Angeles County (DHS), and the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (Cal/OSHA) effective August 4, 2023. However, this mandate may be reinstated at any time as recommended by these governing agencies.
EMPOWERING AND TRANSFORMING LIVES. Weingart Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) that provides individuals experiencing homelessness with essential tools necessary to stabilize their lives, secure income, and find permanent housing. Our mission is to empower and transform lives by delivering innovative solutions to break the cycle of homelessness.
The policy of the Weingart Center Association (WCA) is to provide equal opportunity and equal consideration to all peoples without regard to race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, sexual identity, color, creed, sex, age, or physical disability. WCA is an "equal opportunity employer." WCA will not discriminate and will take measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, and advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, or sex, age or physical disability.
To find out more , visit www.weingart.org
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $21.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Application Question(s):
- Will you be able to submit to a required background check?
- What is your hourly rate requirement related to this role?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Preferred)
Experience:
- substance abuse counseling: 2 years (Preferred)
- Addiction counseling: 2 years (Preferred)
Language:
License/Certification:
- CADC Certification (Preferred)
- CATC Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person