The incumbent provides direct services (assessment and treatment) to clients and families with substance abuse issues and concentrates on clients with specialized, unusual or multiple disorders. The incumbent in this position must be a Licensed Addiction Counselor and have knowledge of co-occurring disorders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice as a Licensed Addiction Counselor by the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA) plus three years of counseling experience.

Function of Work:
To serve as a Licensed Addiction Counselor providing independent professional addictive disorders counseling to clients and families with a minimum of supervision concentrating on clients with specialized, unusual, or multiple disorders.
 
Level of Work:
Advanced.

Supervision Received:
Broad review from higher-level professional.
 
Supervision Exercised:
May provide functional and clinical supervision over other counselors, staff, and professionals.
 
Location of Work:
Department of Health and Hospitals, Office for Addictive Disorders.
 
Job Distinctions:
Differs from the Professional Counselor series by the presence of licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor.

Differs from lower-level counselors by the presence of a master's degree and licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor.
 
Differs from a Social Service Counselor 5-B by absence of supervisory responsibility.
 

60% Direct Services:   

• Provides direct services to clients with substance issues including those with co-occurring disorders.   

• Orients the clients to the agency procedures, eligibility requirements, and availability of services.  

• Provides assessment, crisis intervention, individual, family, group counseling with clients and family members.  

• Suggests treatment interventions and additional referrals based upon assessment.  

• Assists clients in locating and obtaining other services (mental health, medical) and finding resources to assist with basic needs.  

• Coordinates services between addictive disorders treatment team and mental health treatment team. 

• Also coordinates referrals/services with detox and substance abuse inpatient providers. 

• Provide status reports on clients who are referred by the court system, other agency, or work related.

15% Direct Clinical Services:   

• Provide direct clinical services to clients with mental health disorders. 

• Orients the clients to the agency procedures, eligibility requirement, and availability of services.   

• Provides crisis intervention and other direct services to the mental health population as needed to assist the mental health clinicians.  

• Assists this population in obtaining other medical services and in finding resources to assist with basic needs.

15% Indirect Clinical Services:   

• Documents all client contact and related data entry.  

• Develops treatment plans based upon clinical assessment and ASAM criteria.  

• Maintains clinical charts and update information as required.  

• Conducts face to face, written, and telephone communications with other agencies in the best interest of the client and to ensure continuity of care.  

• Gathers and review clinical charts prior to services delivery.  

• Consults with team members and other clinical staff regarding treatment and progress of cases. 

• May attend multi-agency staffing, court hearings and other meetings focused on the welfare of clients.

10% Meeting and Workshop Attendance:  

• Provides treatment recommendations on behalf of clients to judges, probation officers, other court officers, and primary care physicians.  

• Provides in-service training on addiction, serves on committees, attends meetings, attends training, and performs out research related or program improvement activities.

• Provides consultation/education to clinical treatment team on addiction issues. 

• May assist with other agency functions including but not limited to data entry, reports, program development, staff training, etc.   

• May assist in orientation, training, and oversight of interns.