Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC)

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The HARRIS CENTER") is currently seeking a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) with the Project AWARE. The purpose of the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) program is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services. AWARE grantees build collaborative partnerships with the State Education Agency (SEA), Local Education Agency (LEA), Tribal Education Agency (TEA), the State Mental Health Agency (SMHA), community-based providers of behavioral health care services, school personnel, community organizations, families, and school-aged youth.to become a valued member of our team. The LCDC will serve under the direction of the Unit specific program director. The LCDC will provide rehabilitation, skills training and instructional work to clients in the Unit. The LCDC will perform substance abuse counseling with dual-diagnosed consumers. Work involves identifying clients' rehabilitation needs, providing the necessary instruction in self-help or self-care and community living skills in order to assist consumers in attaining their optimum levels of independent skills and functioning. Work involves planning, coordinating, and implementing substance abuse counseling activities and referring to other agencies and community organizations to ensure maximum utilization of resources available for treatment and rehabilitation. Work will be site-based individual or group modality.

Your role in Action:

• Maintains a working knowledge of updated available community resources and makes appropriate referrals as needed.
• Provides specific interventions or activities within the scope and practice of LCDC’s and in accordance with Agency/Unit policies and procedures and appropriate to the individual needs of each consumer:
  • Comprehensive substance use evaluation
  • Administer instruments to assess the scope of substance abuse or use
  • Develops comprehensive substance use treatment plan
  • Organizes, conducts and documents groups as needed
  • Documents substance related intervention in daily progress notes
  • Ongoing contact with consumer, family, significant others and treatment team as needed
  • Identifies consumers at high risk or relapse and evaluates for changes in status
  • Documents substance related discharge plan
• Participates in a collaborative manner as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Maintains open communication with medical director, unit director and other professional staff.
• Provides other staff with necessary information including substance abuse/use assessment, intervention/problem resolution, treatment team, and family and consumer consultation.
• Conducts assessments and evaluates the consumer’s participation in the program.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to the cultural diversity of consumers. Family members, visitors and fellow employees.
• Demonstrates a strong consumer / customer-service oriented behaviors. Treats consumers in a polite, professional manner. Handles consumer concerns, problems and issues in a manner that is helpful and responsive.
• Flexible to meet the on-going needs of the Agency. Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with Agency requirements for data submission.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in the Human Services field (psychology, sociology, etc.) preferred.

Experience:

• Two (2) years direct client experience as Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Counselor.

Other Key Qualifications:

• Current LCDC license required.
• Valid Texas Driver’s license

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Basic understanding of what mental illness is, substance use and its effects on mental illness, common signs and symptoms and able to identify difficulties with coping in community settings.
• Strong communication skills, listening and interpersonal skills above average; written documentation is clear, concise, well-constructed and grammatically correct.
• Able to work collaboratively with others in a teamwork environment.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Able to execute standard word processing software on the computer.
• Understanding of the dynamics of the homeless population.

What we have to offer:

The HARRIS CENTER offers competitive salary, excellent benefits package, retirement plans with company matching, prior service credit towards generous PTO accrual, outstanding wellness programs and professional development.

Employees can also take advantage of business casual dress code, corporate discounts, and gym memberships. New hire referral bonus, discounts are also available on an optional basis. These include mobile phone service, fitness centers and other wellness amenities.

What else you should know:

• Your work week: Varied schedule
• Your workplace: This position will be based out of one of the following ISDs: Waller ISD, Channel View ISD or Sheldon ISD.
• The environment: Be prepared to navigate challenging situations - you may occasionally encounter unfavorable conditions. Must be able to manage staff effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Your interactions: Engage with a diverse range of individuals, some of whom may be emotional, physically hostile, agitated or uncooperative. This is an opportunity to employ your strong interpersonal skills and patience to make a real impact in their lives.
• This posting is associated with pos# 54041 and 54051.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The HARRIS CENTER provided care to over 79,000 people in fiscal year 2019 and has an annual budget of over $275 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 42 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,300 employees, The HARRIS CENTER is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.