About First Step
First Step Recovery Centers is a state-licensed, CARF-accredited nonprofit, non-residential alcohol and drug addiction treatment center for adult Tennessee residents. Our evidence-based outpatient treatment program (co-occurring capable) for alcohol use disorder and substance use disorders includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

We are primarily funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), with additional funding from the City of Memphis, private donors, and foundations.

In accordance with our core values, we welcome all clients regardless of the challenges they face. Our goal is to maintain an empathetic, ethical, responsive, and professional attitude in all phases of care. We provide an environment of opportunity for growth, choice, and hope for staff and clients.

First Step Core Values

• Faith
• Persistence
• Hope
• Accountability
• Respect
• Transparency
• Compassion
• Teamwork
• Integrity

The dignity of FSRC’s clients and staff is protected and held in high regard by leadership. FSRC does not recruit staff or admit clients based on culture, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or gender. FSRC recruits personnel based on qualifications and content of character. Clients are admitted based on need and availability.

FSRC will strive to improve the delivery of treatment services through staff development, performance measurement, and management, collecting and analyzing input from clients and stakeholders, adapting to external forces, rewarding innovation, expansion of programs/services, and pursuing technological growth.

Job Summary

First Step counselors help clients achieve successful treatment outcomes. An integral part of the clinical treatment team, they facilitate group counseling sessions, help clients develop and work towards self-directed treatment goals, and oversee the progression of clients towards those goals.

Responsibilities

• Provides person-centered individual and group clinical counseling to adults in outpatient programs.
• Facilitates group sessions per the required and established curriculum, agency guidelines, and highest professional treatment standards.
• Conducts and documents intake and discharge assessments and referrals.
• In coordination with the clinical team and partner agencies, supports clients in identifying and creating self-directed treatment goals, developing treatment and recovery plans, and updating plans as goals are met.
• Assists clients in determining the steps they need to take to achieve these goals and to establish self-directed recovery.
• Serves as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues that impede clients’ progress toward their goals.
• Maintains accurate and complete records and documentation per agency policy of all client interactions and completes all assigned documentation, forms, and reports in a timely manner.
• Adheres to the highest professional standards as outlined by protocols, rules, and regulations.
• Attends periodic staff meetings and training courses as assigned and, if applicable, as necessary to maintain state-issued clinical degree.
• Assists with other projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent knowledge of and/or professional experience with behavioral healthcare, preferably in the addiction treatment field.
• Knowledge of the Criminal Justice system and how individuals meet court ordered requirements for reintegration in the community.
• Knowledge of criminal thinking tendencies and the barriers to recovery.
• Ability to observe behavior problems and symptoms of substance use disorders, mental illness, and co-occurring disorders for the purpose of documentation and communication with the treatment team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, team members, and outside agencies and referral sources in both oral and written manner.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Familiarity with professional and technical emerging knowledge.
• Compassionate with teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with clients, co-workers, supervisors, consumer family members and the general public.
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment physical examination as required.
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information in conformance with HIPAA guidelines.
• Ability to work varied days and hours including some evenings as needed.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; climb stairs and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $28.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person