← Back to jobs

Counselor Intern - Residential Treatment

Location
Paterson, NJ
Work type
Full Time
Posted
2026-11-03

Job description

Position Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Assessing the counseling needs of the clients;
Assessing clients using the ASI or using other standardized assessment tool and for adolescents using the CASI or using other evidence-based validated assessment tool and diagnosing clients for substance disorders using the DSM-IV-TR;
Determining the appropriate level of care based on ASAM PPC-2R;
Obtaining previous records that are relevant to the current treatment episode;
Collaborating with the client in order to develop a written treatment plan that is client-centered and recovery-oriented and includes goals and measurable objectives.
The director of substance abuse counseling shall develop, monitor and provide clients and the treatment team with written schedules that will be used to update each client treatment plan(s) in order to ensure that each client's treatment needs are addressed;
Providing the substance abuse counseling services specified in the client treatment plan;
Reviewing clients throughout the treatment episode according to ASAM PPC-2R, to determine the need for continued services or discharge/transfer;
Reviewing and, where necessary, revising the substance abuse counseling portion of the client treatment plan to address emerging problems;
Developing the client discharge/transfer plans to ensure movement to the appropriate levels of care;
Contacting referral sources, providing case consultation, and coordination with referral sources (for example: mental health treatment providers, criminal justice agencies, schools, employers, the Division of Youth and Family Services);
Participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team for assigned clients;
Providing active case consultation; and
Documenting all counseling and education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals and follow-up in the client's clinical record, providing appropriate signatures and dating of such entries, including those made in electronic records.
Additional Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide individual, group, and family counseling: didactics, treatment planning and case management as required per licensing standards (residential or ambulatory according to program) for a caseload of clients
Formulate measurable individualized Treatment Plans and Treatment Plan Reviews for each client on caseload
Maintain clinical portion of clients’ charts as per Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and CARF guidelines, ensuring that all documentation is up to date as per Straight & Narrow’s Policy on Timeframe for Documentation in Clients’ Charts
Attend regularly scheduled multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT) and present information for Treatment Plan or Treatment Plan Review for clients on caseload
Attend individual and group supervision with Clinical Supervisor as scheduled
Provide clients on caseload with referral to other agencies (i.e., health, psychiatric, vocational rehabilitation and public assistance) for concurrent and/or continued care as part of case management as necessary
Provide crisis intervention to clients as necessary.
Submit documentation to Supervisor daily for any/all sessions held with clients on that day
Attend and actively participate in all CQI subcommittee meetings and/or Grievance Committee meetings on which membership is held
Prepare monthly reports to overseeing agencies/referral sources (i.e., DCP&P, probation officers, parole officers)
If CADC or LCADC has not been obtained, present supervisor with documented progress toward this certification quarterly. Must complete CADC/LCADC within three (3) years from date of hire.
Encourage and support clients’ participation in AA/NA/GA
Follow all Electronic Health Records (EHR) policies.
Unit-specific duties for this position (if any):

Conduct intakes and fully orient new clients to the program
Monitor urine specimens, as required
Complete all required discharge paperwork
Respond to call for guest medication, as required

Requirements

Must have a high school/AA/AS/BA/BS/MA/MSW degree.
Computer literacy and the ability to type is a must.?
Experience with Electronic Health Records is a plus.
If the counselor intern does not have either a CADC or LCADC, they must be actively pursuing one or the other. Progress towards obtaining LCADC/CADC must be documented and reviewed with the supervisors quarterly.
Must complete CADC or LCADC within three (3) years of hire. Details Below

Original source