Substance Use Counselor (Clinical Social Worker)

Salary : See Position Description

Location : Buzz Westfall Justice Center - Clayton, MO

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 2022-00429

Department : Public Health

Opening Date : 11 / 13 / 2025

Closing Date : 12 / 13 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

Description

The Substance Use Counselor conducts comprehensive drug and alcohol assessments to determine appropriate treatment options and level of care required for patient recovery. Provides substance use counseling either individually or in group sessions to promote optimum mental and emotional health. Assists in overcoming dependencies and adjusting to life changes. Will provide education and training with relapse prevention and urge reduction techniques. Encourage and support patients with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse.

The home base for this position will be the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton working with individuals in the County jail. This position will also work in all three of the Department of Public Health Clinics to include John C. Murphy in Berkeley, North Central Community Health Center In Pine Lawn and the South County Health Center in Sunset Hills.

The annual starting salary will be $64,480. As an employer, St. Louis County cares about the health and well-being of our employees. In an effort to provide for the best possible work-life balance, the County offers a generous benefit package which includes affordable health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 4 weeks of Paid Time Off the first year, 11 paid holidays, deferred benefit retirement plan, paid life insurance as well as short and long term disability. A full listing of benefits is available under the benefit tab at the top of this page.

Examples of Duties

Assess patients for substance use disorders and evaluate to determine the most appropriate level of care and treatment support needed.

Make referrals, when determined appropriate and support patient access to treatment and needed services.

Provide substance use counseling and interventions either individually or in group sessions to promote recovery and good behavioral and mental health.

Develop and implement patient treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.

Use a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to work collaboratively with patients to support their treatment and recovery.

Monitor patients use of medication in collaboration with medical providers and / or psychiatrists.

Perform crisis interventions with patients and act as a patient advocate to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.

Stay abreast of new developments in counseling; Read professional literature, attending courses and seminars; Establish a rapport and maintain contact with other social service agencies.

Work with health center staff to educate them on therapeutic communication and effective client interaction.

Maintain excellent interpersonal skills, able to work independently as well as within a team and represent DPH professionally both internally and externally.

Submit reports on patient outcomes and productivity.

Complete all patient documentation in the Electronic Medical Record according to DPH standards.

Maintain HIPAA compliance.

Serve on DPH committees and work groups as assigned.

Actively participate in patient huddles with other team members.

Perform additional duties as determined needed for this job class.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Masters Degree in Social Work or Counseling and a minimum of one year of related counseling experience or any equivalent combination of experience and post graduate training. Must possess a valid driver's license. Licensure by the State of Missouri as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Professional Counselor (LPC) must be obtained prior to completion of a six month probationary period. Prefer experience working with adult and pediatric patients.

Additional Information

SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT : A selection committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant which will include recentness and appropriateness of the applicant's education and experience, answers to the supplemental questions, results of employment references investigated and any other appropriate information available. The selection committee will admit to the interview only those persons who possess the most job-related qualifications and may establish admittance criteria beyond the minimum qualifications stated above. The interview will comprise 100% of the applicant's earned grade. A candidate must earn a qualifying grade of 70 or more on the interview to be eligible for appointment. After initial interviews with the selected candidates are conducted, an email will be sent to the address on file with instructions on how to complete and submit a Conviction Questionnaire. Candidates have 3 days to complete the required questionnaire. The five top ranking candidates, based on the final grade, will be certified to the Department Director / Appointing Authority who will make the final decision.

All applicants conditionally offered a merit position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be covered by the County.

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY : In support of commitment to the health, safety, and wellness of all staff and to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) it is the policy of the Department of Public Health that all newly hired employees are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Acceptable forms of proof include CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards (or legible photo), documentation from a health care provider, electronic health record, or state immunization information system record. New employees must be fully vaccinated prior to starting service for the Department, and adherence to this policy is a condition of employment. Full vaccination means having received a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved vaccine or vaccine series, consisting of two doses of either of the two-dose vaccines or one dose of the single-dose vaccine. For moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals, a primary series consists of a 3-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. At this time, full vaccination does not require a booster shot. The meaning of "fully vaccinated" is subject to change in accordance with the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. For applicants with a to the vaccine or sincerely held religious beliefs, which prohibit them from receiving a vaccine, you may contact the Department of Public Health Office of Human Resources (DPH HR) during the hiring phase to request an exemption or reasonable accommodation. Employees granted exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to wear facial coverings to reduce the risk of transmission to at-risk individuals in DPH facilities and submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. All prospective employees must read and acknowledge the Policy during the application process.

HOW TO APPLY : Applicants interested in applying for this position should visit our website at We only accept On-line applications.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY : The policy of the Civil Service Commission of St. Louis County is to support fair and equitable employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veterans' status or political affiliation. Call the Division of Personnel at (314) 615-5429 for more information on this policy.

St. Louis County

Division of Personnel, 7th Floor Clayton, MO 63105

(314) 615-5429

Relay MO 711 or 800-735-2966

An Equal Opportunity Employer Fax : (314) 615-7703

www.stlouiscountymo.gov

St. Louis County offers its employees many excellent benefits with paid medical insurance, 20 days of PTO (paid time off) the first year and increasing with seniority, and 11-12 paid holidays. Employees hired for full time employment will participate in the St. Louis County retirement plan where they contribute 4% of their salary to the defined benefit plan with vesting after 7 years. Other benefits include : paid life insurance, a credit union, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, pre-tax premium pay plan, dependent care and medical expense reimbursement plans, and short and long term disability insurance.

In addition to these benefits, as of January 1, 2023, St. Louis County approved up to 480 hours of paid parental leave for eligible employees welcoming new children, either by birth or adoption. The employee can also take up to 80 hours of leave for prenatal care and up to 80 hours for care of the child within the first year.

Please click to view all of our benefits.

01

Are you currently licensed by the state of Missouri as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or will you receive licensure prior to completion of your six month probationary period if hired?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of substance use counseling experience do you have? This employment must be reflected in the work experience section of the application.

03

Do you have a current valid driver's license?

04

Tell us what your understanding is of the duties of this position and why you are interested in the job? If currently employed, why do you want to leave your job?

05

Summarize your assessment experience as it relates to patients with substance use disorders.

06

Describe any disciplinary action taken against you by a current or former employer to include written feedback, suspension or termination.

07

Have you ever had any disciplinary action taken against your professional license in any state?

Required Question