Overview:
Help Change Lives. Build Brighter Futures. Recovery starts with compassionate care, and that's where you come in. As a Substance Abuse Counselor, you'll play a vital role in helping adolescents and adults overcome addiction by providing comprehensive assessments, individual and group counseling, personalized treatment planning, and ongoing support throughout their recovery journey. Working alongside a collaborative team of healthcare professionals, you'll empower patients, support families, and make a lasting impact in your community every single day. If you're passionate about helping others find hope, healing, and a path forward, we invite you to join our team. Current Openings: (1) PRN As Needed Why UnityPoint Health? At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We're proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members. Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you're in. Here are just a few: Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program. Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members. Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family. With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together. And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities:- Evaluations, diagnosis, and treatment: Will provide; direct substance abuse assessment, intervention, individual counseling, group counseling, develop treatment plans, education, and consultation services to identified patients, family, and support systems to promote recovery.
- Evaluate the patient's treatment plan through follow-up assessment and adjusts based on clinical findings.
- Identifies available support systems to meet the needs of each individual patient.
- Will follow conformance with standards set by local, state, and federal agencies
- Be knowledgeable of all regional substance abuse facilities and services to assist in coordinating care for patients.
- Will complete drug and alcohol toxicology screenings as needed.
- Consult with UnityPoint Health team members and other outside professionals to assure comprehensive, quality care for the patient.
- Utilize evidenced based practices in treatment
- Delivers high quality care appropriate to the age and educational level of the patient
- May complete court commitment reports
- Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services
- Documentation and Administrative Functions: Maintain certification
- Maintain eligibility to bill for government payers (i.e., not on the Medicaid/Medicare exclusion list.)Document services accurately and timely patient progress with treatment plan goals
- Achieve site of care productivity standards
- May be responsible for insurance authorizations
- Collaboration and Coordination: Responsible for referral and case management activities, including facilitating referrals for additional services, participation in team meetings, coordinating care with community resources, etc. Provide information to Third Party payers
- Participate in all required trainings and educational activities
- Participate in department level meetings and huddles
- Be responsive to patients in applicable communication mode
- May provide clinical supervision for provisionally licensed, or practicum students
Qualifications
Education:
HS diploma-GED Required. Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree preferred in human services.
Experience:- Preference of 2 years of experience in the field of substance abuse; or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills. Lived Experience. License(s)/Certification(s):Iowa and Illinois: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)
- Wisconsin: Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC)
- Could be working toward their CADC as a tCADC, or SAC-IT (for Wisconsin)
- May be required to obtain BLS within six months of hire for certain sites.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
Must have thorough knowledge of human behavior and performance for the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders. Specific knowledge necessary for working with special populations (i.e. adolescent developmental issues).Must have thorough knowledge of the federal drug and alcohol confidentiality law (42 C.F.R. Part 2) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Must have considerable knowledge of the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders including pharmacological factors. Must have considerable knowledge of the current American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as it relates to substance-related disorders or able to acquire the knowledge. Must have knowledge of different approaches to counseling and accepted clinical practices. Must have knowledge of the Code of Ethics for substance abuse counselors. Ability to perform the core functions accepted for Behavioral Health Professionals. Must have the ability to effectively direct other staff members. Must have the ability to work with a diverse population. Must have the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, clients, outside professionals and the general public. Must have skills in the operations of computer word processing applications.#EBHIRINGJob Summary
Requisition ID: 2026-184274
Category: Behavioral Health Services
Location: US-IA-Des Moines
Address: 700 E University AveAffiliate: 3020 UnityPoint Health Des Moines
City: Des Moines
Department: Powell CDC
State: IAFTE: 0.01FLSA: Non-Exempt
Scheduled Hours/Shift: 1 PRN As NeededWork Type (Portal Searching): As Needed
