Certified Addiction Counselor (40 Hour) (Office/On-site)

State of Connecticut - Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services -
Middletown, CT

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Job Details

Full-time
$77,053 - $101,911 a year
7 hours ago

Qualifications

Substance abuse counseling
Substance abuse
Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders

Full Job Description

Do you want to utilize your skills and make a difference? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced individual for the position of Certified Addiction Counselor to join our team.

Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) provides specialized inpatient treatment to individuals with complex mental health and substance use needs. The ASD Merritt 2AB Unit is a residential rehabilitation program serving approximately 30 patients with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. The team provides a supportive, structured environment where patients can focus on recovery, develop skills for continued success, and prepare for their return to the community. Addiction Counselors are an important part of this team, building therapeutic relationships with patients and helping them connect their treatment to the resources and supports they will need after discharge.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

Facility: Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH)
Division: Addiction Services Division (ASD) Merritt 2AB
Location: Middletown, CT
Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, 1st shift, Tuesday - Saturday 8:00am - 4:30pm
PCN: 114581

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
Professional growth and development opportunities.
A healthy work/life balance to all employees

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

Engage in a rewarding career;
Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;
Thrive in an exciting environment;
Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;
Work together in a collaborative team environment.

THE ROLE:

In this role, you will provide meaningful, hands-on support to patients throughout their treatment and recovery journey. The counselor leads group sessions, meets individually with patients, provides case management, helps patients connect with community resources, assists with discharge planning, supports daily unit activities, and provides transportation to appointments when needed. This is an opportunity to use your counseling skills to build trust, encourage recovery, and help individuals take meaningful steps toward a healthier and more independent future.

MORE ABOUT US:

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

CVH's vision and mission is to promote recovery through collaborative, compassionate, and culturally competent treatment in a safe, healthy, and caring environment. We provide trauma informed gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life and return to the community.

Please note:

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.

All state employees must adhere to Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].
Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Julie Barker at [email protected].

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Veterans' Affairs this class is accountable for providing specialized counseling services to clients in a behavioral health treatment program.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Provides counseling services to alcohol and drug dependent clients;
Screens clients to determine eligibility for programs;
Assesses strengths, weaknesses and treatment needs;
Orients clients to treatment program;
Participates in treatment planning and individual and/or group counseling;
Responsible for case management activities;
Provides crisis intervention services in response to emotional and/or physical distress;
Makes referrals to outside or other programs for medical and/or psychological intervention;
Maintains confidential reports and records of client data;
Represents program at community events and seminars;
Educates clients on substance abuse issues and availability of resources;
Consults with service providers to assure comprehensive integrated care;
May escort clients;
May provide coverage duties;
May collect urine for drug screening;
Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Knowledge of
- physical, psychological, social, family and economic effects of substance abuse;
- counseling principles and techniques;
- community resources;
- confidentiality provisions;
- infectious diseases;
Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate information pertinent to treatment, diagnosis and rehabilitation of an individual.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Certification from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor and three (3) years of experience involving risk reduction education and counseling to assist alcohol and drug dependent individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

Licensure from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor may be substituted for the General Experience.
For state employees three (3) years of experience as a Certified Addiction Counselor Trainee may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience working with multidisciplinary team in a hospital setting or behavioral health residential setting providing care and treatment to clients with substance use and mental health disorders.
Experience with Evidence-Based Practice, focusing on standardized measurable outcomes, and the application of research-supported approaches.
Experience utilizing community resources and supports to connect individuals with appropriate services.
Experience in case management.
CT DPH licensure as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
Active driver’s license for transporting clients.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must retain the certification and/or licensure outlined above.
Individuals recovering from addiction to alcohol or drugs are required to have two (2) years of substance free time to be considered for a position in a substance abuse program.
Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language or be fluent in American Sign Language.
Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid driver's license.
Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

A medical and/or psychiatric examination may be required prior to appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to perform moderate amounts of lifting or restraining of patients and exposed to communicable and/or infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive and/or abusive patients.

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