Substance Abuse Counselor 1 (CADC/LCADC) – Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Department of Health Services

Organizational Overview:

The mission of the Bergen County Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services is to raise awareness and assure that Bergen County Residents of all ages who need resources for mental health or substance use disorders have access to information and care regardless of ability to pay.

Job Description:           

This employment opportunity is to serve as a Substance Abuse Counselor 1. Under direction of a Supervising Substance Abuse Counselor or other supervisory official, does field and office work to provide intake, outreach, assessment, case management, counseling, class facilitation and/or aftercare services for individuals with substance use disorders; does other related duties as required.

Job Responsibilities:          

  • Conducts intake assessments/screens and participates in initial interviews with individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment services.
  • Assists in the development of preliminary treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery plans.
  • Maintains an assigned caseload of clients and provides group and individual counseling services.
  • Participates in case, diagnostic, and progress conferences with treatment team members.
  • Investigates and verifies pertinent facts and information necessary for effective treatment planning/program participation.
  • Facilitate toxicology screens for patients.
  • Develops and maintains collaborative working relationships with community providers, recovery support services, and stakeholder agencies.
  • Plans and facilitates group counseling sessions and educational discussions on substance use, recovery, relapse prevention, and wellness topics.
  • Provides personal counseling and guidance to individuals experiencing social, behavioral, and recovery-related challenges.
  • Assist clients in accessing community resources and recovery support services.
  • Attends and takes part in training and meetings as assigned.
  • Participates in life safety, emergency planning, and program compliance activities as required.
  • Prepares reports and maintains accurate documentation in accordance with program policies and procedures.

Schedule:

Per Diem / as needed based on program needs.
Schedule may include daytime, evening, weekend or holiday hours based on program needs.

Education and Experience Requirements: 

  • High School Diploma
  • Possession of an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in counseling or related field preferred.
  • Valid New Jersey Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) required.
  • Minimum of one (1) year experience in counseling, social work, or substance use disorder treatment services.

Other Requirements:

  • Bilingual Spanish/English candidates are strongly encouraged to apply (must be able to read, write, speak, and understand both languages sufficiently to perform duties).
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to maintain accurate documentation and records.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and community partners.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams, Word, Outlook and Excel programs.
  • Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
  • Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey which is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

What we offer:

  • Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan.
  • Earned sick leave in accordance with applicable laws and policies.
  • Employee Assistance and Employee Wellness Programs.
  • Opportunities for supervision and clinical experience hours toward professional licensure.

Salary:  $24.00 / per hour

Please send resume and employment application to resume@bergencountynj.gov – put in subject line job applying for, thank you.

The County of Bergen is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.

It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of The County of Bergen not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.

The County of Bergen complies with the New Jersey First Act. An employee’s primary residence must be within the State of New Jersey, or the employee will have 365 days (1 Year) from their date of hire to satisfy the requirement of principal residency.