03/11/02                                                         L0700                                                                     

DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT SPECIALIST TRAINEE   

DEFINITION: This is beginning level work of a training nature in developing counseling and client-monitoring skills utilized in a Single County Authority (SCA) Drug and Alcohol Functional Treatment Unit.

An employee in this class participates in on-the-job training and formal courses to develop skills and techniques in the counseling, monitoring and management of drug and alcohol dependent clients. Work involves observing, participating in and assisting with individual, group, or family counseling under the direction and observation of a senior counselor. An employee receives training in writing treatment plans and updates, assessing client progress, evaluating reports from treatment facilities, confidentiality provisions and coordinating services with other human service agencies. Supervision is received from a drug and alcohol treatment specialist supervisor or higher-level administrator who reviews work in progress and upon completion for results and for adherence to established guidelines.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Observes and participates in individual, family and group counseling sessions.

Learns to write treatment plans and objectives; as skills increase, writes treatment plans and objectives for a small caseload of clients.

Applies counseling techniques by observing and assisting in counseling sessions; as skills develop, provides individual counseling under direct supervision.

Interviews clients to complete the psychosocial history and assists in developing the psychosocial evaluation.

Participates in case consultations.

Maintains required reports and submits as required by the supervisor.

Learns to conduct interviews with clients.

Learns to coordinate client services with community support agencies.

Participates in a variety of learning experiences, including formal on-the-job training programs designed to develop professional and technical skills.

Performs related work as required.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT SPECIALIST TRAINEE (CONTINUED)

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Ability to learn addiction, the disease concept and its treatment.

Ability to learn counseling techniques and intervention methods.

Ability to read and understand guidelines and forms.

Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with clients from various cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.

Ability to learn techniques and application of treatment planning.

Ability to learn the techniques utilized to assess the level of client dependency on drugs or alcohol, progress from client in treatment and environmental factors influencing client.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: A Bachelor’s Degree or above with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other behavioral sciences;

or

An Associate’s Degree with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other behavioral sciences; and two (2) years of clinical experience (a minimum of 3,640 hours) in a health or human service agency.

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST05