Substance Abuse Counselor​/Emergency Appointments Homelessness

Overview

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

FILING DATES: First Day of Filing:
April 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
EXAM NUMBER: b5884J-EA. This announcement is a re-bulletin to reopen the filing period. The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use.

If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Substance Abuse Counselor vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance.

This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Substance Abuse Counselor.

• Conduct interviews of clients/patients and/or their family members to obtain family, social, medical, work, and mental health histories.
• Participate with the treatment team in developing, implementing, and evaluating treatment or therapy approaches for patients/clients, family members, and significant others in all phases of comprehensive substance abuse and/or mental health treatment programs.
• Counsel patients/clients to prevent relapses by assisting them in recognizing causal factors of substance abuse/mental illness and in developing appropriate coping behaviors.
• Counsel patients/clients regarding community resources or treatment services available to help prevent or cope with relapses.
• Assist senior-level counselors in complex areas of social and psychological adjustment counseling.
• Maintain a close system of follow-up for previously discharged persons by means of personal visits, telephone calls, and other means of communication; complete records on follow-up activities.
• Participate in educational activities in formal academic settings and in treatment or rehabilitation centers to improve knowledge of substance abuse and mental health-related areas.
• Develop and promote interest in the substance abuse and/or mental health fields by speaking before community groups or coordinating speakers or resource persons.
• Monitor and document client/patient progress in substance abuse/mental health recovery.
• Assist in the supervision of aides or trainees and in the recruitment, selection, and training of such program staff members, as needed.
• Assist with on-call duties, as needed.

• One year of experience in a substance abuse program with experience providing physical assessment of patients, counseling of individuals, families and groups, and documentation.
• OR One year of training at the level of Substance Abuse Counselor Aid in a substance abuse counselor training program.
• OR Completion of 60 semester units or equivalent quarter units in an accredited college or university with specialization in substance abuse counseling, social work, psychology, sociology, or human services.

You MUST meet one of the above requirement(s) within three (3) months of filing in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

* Substance Abuse Counselor Aid is defined as participating as a trainee in a substance abuse or mental health services program designed for the prevention of substance abuse and the treatment of rehabilitation patients and mental health clients with substance abuse problems.

Candidates may file for this examination if they are within three months of meeting the experience requirements by the last day of filing. However, the names of such candidates will be withheld until the required experience…