Adcare Hospital - Lead Counselor I

AdCare, a subsidiary of American Addiction Centers, Inc., is a for-profit substance abuse disorder treatment facility located at 107 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605. For over 45 years, AdCare has been helping individuals and families struggling with alcohol and drug use, one life at a time. The AdCare name represents innovation, quality, and cost efficiency in treating alcohol and drug dependency. We are committed to improving the lives of our patients and their families by providing safe, effective, recovery-based alcohol and drug treatment.

Our addiction recovery center(s) provide a comprehensive approach to care. AdCare's integrated system of care offers a range of accessible treatment centers including a 114-bed inpatient hospital and several conveniently located outpatient sites located throughout the Massachusetts and Rhode Island areas. When you join AdCare, you become part of our family. AdCare seeks talented individuals who are passionate, empathetic, engaged in their work and dedicated to serving people. Together, we can enable our patients to live happier and healthier lives. Our purpose and passion are to empower patients, their families, and our communities by helping individuals achieve recovery and optimal wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.

Job Summary

Responsible for providing individual, group and family counseling.  Conduct clinical assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge planning, and care coordination for new patients and on-going required assessments. Lead counselor I will demonstrate expertise in therapeutic interventions, treatment modalities and utilize evidence based practices. American Addiction Centers strives to ensure that all of our patients receive the most comprehensive care to address the issues that may impede their recovery. Under the direction of the Clinical Director and Program Manager, the Lead Counselor is responsible for providing new hire training for counselors. The Lead Counselor ensures that treatment services and their documentation are consistently delivered in accordance with AdCare’s clinical design, specific to the program, in a manner that demonstrates sound care reducing relapse from alcohol and other drugs. This position ensures counseling staff are highly trained and proficient in the delivery of clinical services, in conjunction with the Leadership team. The Lead Counselor holds a high level of clinical expertise, and is counted as part of the counseling staffing pattern. The Lead Counselor reviews workflow, productivity, leads shift report, and assigns responsibilities as indicated in the absence of a Program Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide intervention, assessments, treatment planning, triage, and individual/group counseling.
• Initiate and provide family counseling services.
• Provide clinical services to all patients on caseload and assist, when needed, with other patients as assigned by clinical manager.
• Provides training to new hires and assigned interns.
• Rounds on all units in the evening to ensure shift workflow.
• Coordinates and schedules evening Commitments.
• Participates in weekly supervision team meetings and program staff meetings
• Ensures that all documentation meets contract, licensure, accreditation, and standards for service in a timely manner following AAC’s documentation policy guidelines.
• Communicates efficiently with other departments to ensure best care for patients.
• Provides clinical services to inpatient adult population
• Understands and abides by State Department standards, facility accreditation, and AAC’s policy and procedures.
• Demonstrates dependability and adaptability.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient and company information
• Abides by the standards of HIPAA, 42CFR Part 2.
• Assists in monitoring and managing patient community as a therapeutic milieu.
• Intervenes in crisis to deescalate situations and resolve crises, using events as entries into therapeutic process for patients.
• Diagnose substance use disorder and/or other co-occurring psychiatric disorders within scope of practice. 
• The Lead Counselor serves as the primary point of contact and designated staff member in charge for any clinical or behavioral concerns or crises when Program Manager is out of the office or off property.
• The Lead Counselor is expected to consistently communicate/collaborate with the Program Manager regarding patient or staff concerns and assist the Program Manager with fostering a positive team-oriented environment and morale.
• Complete outcome measures.
• Review safety plans.
• Obtain input from patients’ collateral contacts, family, referral source or other providers.
• Develop behaviors/symptoms-based treatment plans for assigned patients.
• Conduct family sessions as indicated.
• Document patient progress as indicated.
• Conduct daily group counseling.
• Prepares treatment team summary for assigned patients.
• Assists with placement process.
• Writes (prepares) discharge plan, with patient’s input, with the next treatment steps beyond inpatient.
• As appropriate, involve EAP/employer in planning patient’s return to work.
• Coordinate discharge plan with family, collateral contacts, referral sources, and outside agencies.
• Consistently arrives for work on time and adheres to attendance policies.
• Treats patients, visitors, and colleagues with dignity and respect. Honors each person’s right to privacy; maintains very strict patient and colleague confidentiality; respects all individuals’ differences; supports cultural diversity in our organization; and follows the core competencies of the Standard of Excellence.
• Responsible for supporting patients with their recovery during their inpatient stay by helping the process their progress, gain awareness of recovery obstacles, and guide them through emotional difficulties and frustrations using a trauma informed approach.
• Assists patients in identifying and prioritizing urgent needs, and appropriately intervenes when a patient expresses their wish to leave against medical advice (AMA).
• Utilizes Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques to help patients make informed and healthy decisions.
• Facilitates assigned educational and support groups.
• Appropriately documents all interactions with patients, both individually and group, in a timely manner.
• Appropriately documents all interactions with patients both individual and group, in a timely manner.
• Appropriately provides all required reports in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates knowledge of services and programs within AdCare’s continuum of care in order to support ongoing recovery.
• Understands that continuing recovery care begins at admission.
• Serves as a positive role model for all patients and staff within the program by promoting the structure and rules of the program in a patient-centered manner, and role-modeling appropriate pro-social behaviors.
• In conjunction with the Leadership team ensure that patient non-adherence with rules and negative behaviors are addressed with the staff promptly, appropriately, in a patient-centered and trauma informed manner designed to promote positive behaviors and in direct relation to the specific negative behaviors. 
• Adheres to all activities within program schedule according to established times including all groups and meetings, and works with staff as appropriate to ensure adequate coverage for all clinical activities as necessary.
• Attends all required meetings.
• Participates in monthly individual and group supervision, and as needed supervision.
• Understands that this position  is very visible to patients, so frequently walks through their entire unit with a minimum of at least twice per hour to ensure a safe, structured environment and addresses patient concerns.
• Demonstrates the ability to prioritize tasks and responsibilities and complete duties in the allotted time.
• Maintains comprehensive interpersonal skills, competencies, and certification as required. Knowledge of recovery support groups, such as a AA, etc.
• Demonstrates respect for all patients, supervisors, nursing and medical staff, other employees, visitors, families, and referral sources.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care of patients and the use of facility property.
• Assists with crisis management and other emergencies as needed.
• Strictly adheres to HIPPA and confidentiality policies.
• Maintains adequate knowledge of the program’s emergency preparedness plan and emergency procedures.
• Participates in all required trainings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education/ Experience:

• High School Diploma required; Bachelor’s in Behavioral Sciences (Social Work, Counseling, Psychology) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year experience in a behavioral healthcare field. Previous supervisory or lead experience preferred.
• Counseling experience with adults, an understanding of psychotropic medications and symptoms and effects.
• Experience working with substance abuse, addictions, mental health, cognitive behavior treatment and motivational interviewing. 
• Knowledge of utilizing electronic health record software and documentation.
• Knowledge of ASAM criteria.
• Ability to read, write and interpret written information, type documentation, present information to groups and participate in meetings.  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft and Google products.

Physical Requirements

AAC is committed to principles of equal opportunities for all employees.  The Company will provide reasonable accommodations that are necessary to comply with State and Federal disability discrimination laws

Prolonged sitting at a desk

Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time

Compensation Transparency: In accordance with the Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act, the reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $25.66-$38.48 per hour. Actual compensation within this range will depend on the candidate’s skills, experience, education, and relevant qualifications. Generally, placement within the upper portion of the range is reserved for candidates with several years of directly related experience or exceptional expertise.

American Addiction Centers is an equal opportunity employer.  American Addiction Centers prohibits employment practices that discriminate against individuals or groups of employees on the basis of age, color disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information or any other category deemed protected by state and/or federal law.