Position Summary: Service Coordinators are members of a non-fidelity Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and work together to provide recovery oriented services in a flexible, compassionate, and responsible manner to formerly homeless individuals who have psychiatric disabilities and substance use disorders.  Service Coordinators maintain a primary caseload but also have a shared responsibility for all other participants on the team.  The Substance Use Specialist has lead responsibility for integrating recovery and treatment for substance use disorders into the work of the Team and will work with individuals who have experienced homelessness to manage and treat their substance use disorder. The Substance Use Specialist will work closely with Pathways’ team of case managers in providing flexible, community-based services that are designed to promote the stability, recovery and community reintegration of formerly homeless individuals who have a mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The Substance Use Specialist will bring expertise in the area of harm reduction and substance use disorder counseling to the team. The starting salary is $44,000 annually.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance to teams regarding available and appropriate recovery resources for participants with substance use disorders.
• Administer PCPC as needed in order to access appropriate recovery services for participants.
• Collaborate with consumers in the formulation of a comprehensive service plan that is reviewed and modified with that person on a regular basis.
• Provide outreach, service coordination, counseling, advocacy, and other needed services to consumers in any environment including the streets, shelters, prisons, hospitals, apartments, office, etc.
• Provide individually tailored consumer driven services to each client—i.e. housing placement, independent living skills, vocational guidance, appointment escorts, integrated substance use treatment, and family counseling.
• Maintain written and computerized records, compile reports and complete other program documentation (including case notes, statistics, letters, psychological evaluations, etc.).
• Coordinate and monitor referrals to community services, and advocate client participation in them.
• Educate, inform and advocate for consumers regarding benefits and entitlements (Social Security, Public Assistance, food stamps, etc.).
• Lead groups, workshops, and in-services on topics such as substance use, safe sex, domestic violence, etc.
• Participate in on-call rotation and some activities outside of “normal business hours.”
• Perform comprehensive substance use assessments of all clients.
• Cross Train team members.
• Facilitate educational & support groups e.g., harm reduction, relapse prevention.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Education, Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in sociology, social work, psychology, gerontology, anthropology, political science, history, criminal justice, theology, nursing, counseling or education preferred, or bachelor’s degree required with at least 12 credit hours in sociology, psychology, social welfare, social work, gerontology, or other social science with at least 2 years of direct client experience.
• Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with disabilities and other minority populations.
• Career experience in social services, supported housing, or with persons with disabilities.
• Excellent communication, writing, and computer skills.
• Ability to work with diverse populations including clients and staff in critical and emergency situations.
• Sensitive to cultural, economic, gender, and sexual orientation differences
• Bilingual a plus.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• PCPC, ASAM Certification or CADC Certification preferred or at least two years professional work experience dedicated to working with individuals with substance use disorders.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Community environment.  Some light lifting is required.  Constant interaction with agency clientele.