CUMBERLAND HEIGHTS

We are looking for you! Do you want to be a part of the team that transforms lives? Cumberland Heights is more than a campus on 177 acres, it’s a community. Our mission is providing the highest quality care possible for persons and families who are at risk for or who are suffering from the disease of chemical dependency. Treatment encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of recovery by offering a safe, loving and healing environment, combining professional excellence and the principles of the Twelve Steps.

Cumberland Heights Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

· Medical, Dental and Vision effective 1st day of month following 28 days of employment

· Employer Contribution for Health Saving Account or Health Reimbursement Account

· 401K with Company match and eligibility after 90 days of employment

· Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual beginning day (1) one and up to 20 days of PTO the first year 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Stabilization Counselor position focuses on the first days of treatment, when patients are most likely to leave. The role makes first clinical contact with new admissions, initiates treatment planning and warm handoffs to primary counselors, provides check-ins and AMA intervention for at-risk patients, facilitates early recovery programming, and serves as the first-line available counselor. The position does not carry a standing caseload, coordinate aftercare, or determine medical clearance. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include some or all of the following:

1. Admission engagement and initial treatment planning. Makes first clinical contact with each new admission as soon as nursing confirms it is medically appropriate; any patient not seen during the shift of admission is prioritized at the start of the next shift and the reason is documented. Learns the patient’s goals, immediate concerns, readiness for change, early-departure risk, and safety concerns; initiates the individualized treatment plan within credential, scope of practice, policy, and payer requirements; and completes a warm handoff to the primary counselor, who owns the plan going forward.
2. Therapeutic engagement and AMA prevention. Provides purposeful, documented 15-minute check-ins using motivational interviewing for new admissions during their first 72 hours on campus, patients identified as at risk of leaving, and patients returning from a crisis or near-AMA. Responds promptly and in person to intent-to-leave situations according to the AMA procedure, offers real alternatives, and assesses safety. When a patient chooses to leave, respects the decision and shifts to harm reduction, including overdose risk education, naloxone per policy, safe transportation, crisis contacts, and an open invitation to return. Never coerces, threatens, misrepresents consequences, or delays a lawful discharge.
3. Early recovery and relapse prevention programming. Designs and facilitates an open-entry, modular early recovery and relapse prevention curriculum, aligned with the Cumberland Heights Model of Care and 12-Step philosophy, for patients not yet on the standard schedule. After nursing or medical staff determine medical appropriateness, determines clinical appropriateness for group; provides bedside or individual engagement for patients not appropriate for group. Submits a curriculum outline to the Chief Clinical Officer within the first 30 days in the role and reviews it at least annually.
4. Crisis response and extended-hours support. Serves as the first-line available counselor across residential programs during late-day and Saturday hours for treatment ambivalence, behavioral escalation, interpersonal conflict, and clinical crises. De-escalates independently within scope; immediately escalates suicidal or homicidal ideation, self-harm, violence, medical or psychiatric emergencies, suspected intoxication or overdose, and mandated-reporting situations through established protocols; and completes post-crisis communication, follow-up, and incident reporting.
5. Discharge readiness and continuity. Prepares detox-only patients and patients with unplanned discharges for transition, including a written relapse prevention plan, overdose risk education, crisis contacts, recovery supports, and an explanation of the recommended next level of care. Works alongside Case Management, which owns aftercare coordination, and verifies before the patient leaves that the appointment, transportation, and handoff to the receiving provider have actually occurred.
6. Flexible clinical coverage. Once admission, engagement, and crisis needs are addressed, facilitates scheduled groups, supports programs that are short on staff, and assists with time-sensitive documentation. Coverage is time-limited; requests that would prevent first contacts, at-risk check-ins, or crisis availability are raised with the director on call for prioritization.
7. Prioritization of work. When demands compete, works in this order: active crisis and safety concerns; intent-to-leave and AMA interventions; new admission engagement and at-risk check-ins; scheduled early recovery groups; discharge readiness and transition support; and flexible coverage. When two items at the same level conflict, attends first to the patient at greater risk of harm or of leaving, and documents what was deferred and why.
8. Saturday coverage. Works Saturdays as part of the regular schedule, when fewer clinical staff are on campus, and plans group programming to accommodate the higher volume of crisis and intent-to-leave work expected on those days.
9. Handoffs. Completes structured handoffs that are both documented in the electronic health record and communicated directly to the receiving counselor or team, covering patient goals, readiness for change, clinical concerns, risk of leaving, interventions completed, treatment plan status, and outstanding needs. Admission handoffs are completed before the patient’s first session with the primary counselor or by the end of the next business day, whichever comes first.
10. Treatment team collaboration. Works with primary counselors, nursing and medical staff, Case Management, Admissions, and milieu staff to share risk information, coordinate group participation, and support continuity of care, without assuming primary counselor responsibilities or a standing caseload.
11. Documentation. Documents every encounter by the end of the shift in which it occurred, stating clinical purpose, intervention, patient response, risk findings, and follow-up plan. Individualizes group notes for each patient and labels late entries per policy.
12. Communication and improvement. Completes an end-of-shift close-out that includes briefing the director on call on any open risk, identifying at-risk patients for the next shift, and notifying Case Management of unresolved discharge barriers the same day. Shares recurring early-departure patterns with Admissions and contributes to review of role outcomes, including AMA and early-departure rates, timeliness of first contact, and handoff quality.

• Ability to demonstrate leadership, model quality patient care, and show initiative in problem solving
• Master’s Degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field preferred; Bachelor’s Degree required
• Licensed or license-eligible in Tennessee as a LADAC, LPC-MHSP, LCSW, or LMFT (Clinical leadership and HR to confirm)
• Minimum of two years behavioral healthcare experience; addiction treatment, detox, crisis intervention, or group facilitation experience strongly preferred
• Skilled in motivational interviewing and evidence-based counseling practices in support of 12 Step philosophy
• Ability to design and facilitate brief, open-entry psychoeducational and relapse prevention groups
• Knowledge of intoxication and withdrawal, overdose risk after detox, harm reduction (including naloxone), and levels of care
• Ability to recognize early signs of treatment ambivalence and calmly de-escalate people in crisis
• Culturally humble, with the ability to apply age, cultural, and population-specific considerations to patient care
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; Spanish a plus
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Outlook, electronic medical records, and presentation media
• Collaborative, courteous, and adaptable to changing circumstances and patient needs
• If recovering, two years of verifiable abstinence required with five years preferred; active participation in the appropriate Twelve Step program preferred

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Position is in an office, group room, or larger community settings that involves everyday risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions. 
• Position requires frequent contact with people in crisis, including those who are emotionally volatile and may require additional safety precautions.
• Position requires prompt response to crises and intent-to-leave situations across residential programs and campus locations, including the medical area.
• May perform CPR/First Aid as needed (being certified or eligible is required)
• Regular schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, including Saturday coverage as a standard workday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hours may vary with patient needs, required meal periods, inclement weather, and critical staffing.
• Ability to lift up to 20lbs and/or push pull up to 40lbs; move around campus on uneven and rural terrain.
• Ability to speak, hear, see, sit, walk, stand, reach and use fine/gross motor skills