Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Counselor - Advanced (DOH/TURQ #12537)

$19.82 - $31.71 Hourly

$41,218 - $65,949 Annually

This position is a Pay Band 60

Posting Details

This posting will be used for 30 days to conduct ongoing recruitment and will remain open until the position has been filled. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.

New Mexico Department of Health's Turquoise Lodge Hospital is a facility that provides substance abuse treatment services to New Mexico residents. We specialize in medical detoxification, social rehabilitation services, and Intensive Outpatient services.

All applicants for this position MUST possess license to practice as a Substance Abuse Associate Counselor (LSAA) or a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or higher in accordance with the Counseling and Therapy Health Practice Act, Sections 61-9A-1 through 61-9A-30 NMSA 1978 and 16.27.1 through 16.27.23 NMAC, as applicable. You MUST include your license or certificate number in the "License" section of the application form.

Why does the job exist?

This job exists to provide assessments and admissions in the Access Department for patients who are working toward recovery from substance use and co-occurring disorders.

How does it get done?

This position is member of the ACCESS/Admissions department who will take adult requests for substance abuse treatment, conduct pre-screening assessments to determine eligibility for services, staff cases with a multidisciplinary team, request medical records as needed, and collaborate with various providers in the community.

Duties entail:
- Returning phone calls for patients requesting treatment for substance abuse disorders;
- Working with a team in the admissions department to ensure patients are receiving quality care;
- Completing pre-admission assessments, reviewing pre-admission assessment with medical director for potential admissions, and coordinating with outside facilities;
- Completing calls within 24-48 hours of request for treatment;
- Ensuring pre-scheduling, scheduling, and follow-up calls are completed and documented;
- Providing timely admissions and ensuring staff are following PPE/infection control procedures.

Who are the customers?

Adults who present with substance misuse and co-occurring disorders and staff of Turquoise Lodge Hospital.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have:

- Worked in a multi-disciplinary team environment;
- Experience with quality consumer service;
- Conducted psychosocial interviews and collected pertinent information for level of care determination;
- Worked with individuals with behavioral/mental health diagnoses;
- Experience in documenting clinical information in an electronic medical record;
- Effective communication skills.

Minimum Qualification

Associate's degree in Human Services or Social Services Counseling and two (2) years of experience in mental health, substance abuse counseling and/or behavioral disorder counseling environment. Substitutions Apply. See Substitution Table below.

Substitution Table

These combinations of education and experience qualify you for the position:
Education Experience Education Experience 1 High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 4 years of experience OR High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 4 years of experience 2 Associate's degree in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 2 years of experience Associate's degree or higher in any field AND 4 years of experience 3 Bachelor's degree or higher in the field(s) specified in the minimum qualification AND 0 years of experience
• Education and years of experience must be related to the purpose of the position.

• If Minimum Qualification requires a specific number of "semester hours" in a field (e.g. 6 semester hours in Accounting), applicants MUST have those semester hours in order to meet the minimum qualifications. No substitutions apply for semester hours.

Employment Requirements

All applicants for this position MUST possess license to practice as a Substance Abuse Associate Counselor (LSAA) or a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or higher in accordance with the Counseling and Therapy Health Practice Act, Sections 61-9A-1 through 61-9A-30 NMSA 1978 and 16.27.1 through 16.27.23 NMAC, as applicable. You must include your license or certificate number in the "License" section of the application form. Employment is subject to nationwide criminal background check and is conditional pending results. Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment. Successful completion of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training.

Working Conditions

Incumbent will work in an acute care hospital and an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Lifting up to fifty (50) pounds may be required. Exposure to potentially violent patients in volatile situations requiring crisis interventions may be required.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Carmella Martinez. Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.