Job Description

Gateway Foundation Inc Assessment Counselors are responsible for:

• Regularly travels to various program sites and centers to complete comprehensive assessments according to program guidelines, and formulates diagnostic impression, by conducting client interviews, reviewing substance abuse and mental health treatment history and conferring with staff and referral sources.
• Determines client’s appropriateness for treatment, level of care, strengths and problems, potential dual diagnosis, and requirements for other ancillary services.
• Prepares initial client treatment plan in accordance with assessment and screening, including assigning client to appropriate group and counselor; and identifying need for referral resources or services, such as higher level of care, parenting classes, job search support, education, and medical care.
• Explains treatment plan and objectives, orients client to treatment program, and explains policies and rules. Provides client with relevant information, such as meeting schedules and locations.
• Provides basic didactic group counseling.
• Provides educational groups and lectures to address relapse prevention, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management, etc., and to assist in overcoming substance use disorder, adjusting to pro-social life, and making cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Develops and maintains regular contact with probation officer as well as various community agencies and/or family members/significant others as needed in order to complete necessary treatment follow- up and case management.
• Performs limited case management to facilitate program admission and retention, including encouraging and motivating clients’ participation and commitment to treatment, directing clients to additional services, contacting various agencies to resolve admission problems, following up on appointments by clients, providing crisis intervention, etc.
• Collects and maintains treatment records and reports to ensure organizational, regulatory, accreditation, and contractual compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Working knowledge of ASAM Criteria
• Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or substance abuse counseling; or equivalent education and life experience
• Two (2) year experience in substance abuse treatment
• Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
• Strong knowledge of substance abuse assessments and diagnoses, treatment planning, and admission procedures
• Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level
• Ability to provide substance abuse treatment appropriate to the developmental stage Basic understanding of mental health disorders requiring referrals
• Strong communication skills to exchange information and interact with various internal and external audiences regarding client care
• Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
• Ability to assess and interpret client data, and identify individual client needs to provide substance abuse treatment appropriate to the developmental stage and client population

• Ability to read, write, and understand and follow written instructions
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
• Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy
• Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
• Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients

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