Substance Use Assessment Counselor in Salt Lake City, Utah at Odyssey House Inc.

Odyssey House Utah

Substance Use Assessment Clinician

LSUDC | LASUDC

Department: Admissions

Reports To: Director of Clinical Intake & Business Development

Salary Range: $70,000 – $75,000 per year

About the Role

Odyssey House Utah is seeking a skilled and motivated Substance Use Assessment Clinician credentialed as an LSUDC or LASUDC to join our Admissions team. In this role, you will serve as the clinical entry point for individuals seeking treatment, conducting comprehensive substance use evaluations across our adult, youth, parent-child, and co-occurring populations.

This is a high-impact position at the intersection of clinical excellence and operational integrity. Your assessments directly drive level of care decisions, insurance authorizations, and the quality of care our clients receive from day one. You will work within your LSUDC/LASUDC scope, focused on substance use disorder evaluation, ASAM-based level of care determination, co-occurring screening, and the documentation required to support authorization and compliance.

You will not work in isolation. This role operates within a structured clinical team that includes licensed mental health clinicians (LCSW, CSW) who provide oversight, consultation, and co-signature on diagnostic impressions that fall outside the LSUDC/LASUDC scope of practice. You will have consistent access to licensed clinician supervision to support clinical decision-making, complex case consultation, and professional development.

Licensed Clinician Oversight and Diagnostic Support

Odyssey House Utah is committed to supporting this role within appropriate scope of practice. The following oversight structures are built into this position:

• All co-occurring mental health diagnoses are reviewed and co-signed by a licensed mental health clinician (LCSW or CSW) on the clinical team

• LSUDC/LASUDC clinicians are not expected to independently diagnose mental health disorders, you will screen, document, and flag, and a licensed clinician will complete or confirm mental health diagnostic impressions

• Regular individual and group clinical supervision is provided by a licensed supervisor to support scope compliance, documentation quality, and professional development

• Psychiatric and medical consultation is available for complex presentations involving SPMI, dual diagnosis, or medication-related clinical questions

• Safety planning for high-risk clients is completed collaboratively with licensed clinical staff and program leadership

This structure ensures you can bring your full SUD assessment expertise to this role while operating confidently within your credential, without being asked to exceed it.

Scope of Practice — What This Role Covers

As an LSUDC or LASUDC, your clinical work centers on substance use disorder assessment and level of care placement. Specifically, this role includes:

• Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments focused on substance use history, patterns, severity, and functional impact

• ASAM 3rd Edition evaluations across all six dimensions with written level of care justification tied to medical necessity criteria

• DSM-5 diagnostic formulation for Substance Use Disorders, including severity specifiers and “as evidenced by” documentation

• Co-occurring mental health screening using validated tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, ACE) to inform level of care and referral; mental health diagnosis is completed under licensed clinician oversight

• Suicide and safety risk screening using the C-SSRS at admission and safety planning in collaboration with licensed staff for elevated-risk clients

• Documentation of criminogenic needs, trauma history, social determinants of health, and recovery environment as ASAM dimensions require

• Insurance-ready documentation supporting Medicaid, commercial insurance, and county-funded authorizations

• Coordination with courts, probation and parole, child welfare, and other criminal justice partners within HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements

• Participation in peer-to-peer insurance reviews as needed to support level of care requests

Scope of Practice — What Falls Outside This Role

The following clinical functions are outside the LSUDC/LASUDC scope and are carried by licensed mental health clinicians on our team. You will not be expected to perform these independently:

• Independent diagnosis of mental health disorders, co-occurring MH diagnostic impressions are reviewed and co-signed by an LCSW or CSW

• LOCUS level of care determinations for primary mental health placement

• Provision of individual mental health therapy or mental health treatment planning as the primary clinician of record

• Clinical lead responsibilities for clients whose primary presenting concern is SPMI without co-occurring SUD

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Substance Use and Co-Occurring Assessment

• Complete biopsychosocial assessments for all assigned admissions with a primary focus on substance use disorder evaluation across the lifespan

• Formulate DSM-5 SUD diagnoses with clear symptom documentation and severity specifiers; co-occurring MH diagnostic impressions developed collaboratively with licensed clinical oversight

• Screen for co-occurring mental health symptoms, document findings to inform level of care, and flag complex presentations for licensed clinician consultation and co-signature

• Administer and interpret standardized tools including OQ-45.2, PHQ-9, GAD-7, ACE, C-SSRS, CANS, and LSI:R-SV as required by program or funder

ASAM Level of Care Determination

• Complete ASAM 3rd Edition evaluations across all six dimensions for substance use and co-occurring presentations

• Produce written level of care recommendations with clinical justification tied to severity, function, risk, recovery environment, and payer criteria

• Consult with licensed clinical staff, admissions leadership, and medical or psychiatric providers when diagnostic or level of care questions arise

Suicide and Safety Screening

• Administer C-SSRS Screen at admission and initiate appropriate follow-up versions as indicated

• Collaborate with licensed clinical staff to complete Stanley-Brown Safety Plans or Safety Plan Cards for clients with elevated suicide risk

• Communicate high-risk findings promptly to program leadership and participate in safety planning and disposition decisions

Insurance Documentation and Authorizations

• Produce timely, accurate clinical documentation to support Medicaid, commercial insurance, and county-funded authorizations and continued stay reviews

• Clearly document risk factors, functional impairment, and clinical rationales that meet medical necessity standards

• Participate in insurance peer-to-peer reviews to articulate SUD diagnostic impressions and level of care justification

• Collaborate with utilization management and billing staff to address payer questions and reduce denials

Collaboration and External Partners

• Communicate ASAM findings and risk information to receiving clinical teams in a clear, actionable format

• Work directly with courts, probation and parole, child welfare, and external referral partners in compliance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2

• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and case reviews for complex or high-risk admissions

Compliance and Quality

• Maintain documentation consistent with Joint Commission, Medicaid, Salt Lake County, and internal QA standards

• Participate in audits, peer review, clinical supervision, and quality improvement initiatives

• Follow all agency policies regarding confidentiality, information sharing, and recordkeeping

Work Environment

• Fast-paced admissions environment requiring frequent coordination across clinical, utilization management, billing, and program teams

• Extended periods of documentation, clinical interviewing, and screen-based work

• Regular exposure to complex trauma histories and high-acuity clinical presentations; strong self-care and clinical supervision are actively supported

Why Odyssey House Utah

Odyssey House Utah has been a cornerstone of the Utah recovery community for over 50 years. We offer a mission-driven environment where your clinical work directly changes lives. Our team includes people with lived experience alongside seasoned clinical professionals, and we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

We offer competitive compensation, consistent licensed clinical supervision, a collaborative and supportive team culture, and the opportunity to do meaningful work within a clearly defined and well-supported scope of practice.

Qualifications

Licensure (Required)

• Active Utah LSUDC (Licensed Substance Use Disorder Counselor) or LASUDC (Licensed Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor) in good standing with the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

• Master’s-level candidates with LASUDC credential preferred; bachelor’s-level LSUDC candidates with strong clinical assessment experience will also be considered

Certifications

• Current First Aid and CPR certification, or ability to obtain within agency onboarding timelines

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong working knowledge of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Substance Use Disorders, including severity specifiers and evidence-based documentation standards

• Proficiency in ASAM 3rd Edition assessment and level of care determination across all six dimensions

• Experience administering and interpreting validated instruments including OQ-45.2, PHQ-9, GAD-7, ACE, C-SSRS, CANS, and similar tools

• Demonstrated ability to write clear, concise, clinically sound assessments that meet payer, court, and regulatory standards

• Working knowledge of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 as applied to SUD records and communication with criminal justice partners

• Comfort working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including seeking and accepting clinical consultation and oversight

• Ability to manage high assessment volume while maintaining accuracy, clinical rigor, and professional boundaries

• Experience working with diverse populations including adults, youth, parents with children, and individuals with co-occurring disorders

• Lived experience with recovery is welcomed and valued at Odyssey House

All employees of Odyssey House are required to adhere to: Odyssey House mission, philosophy, and scope of service; Division of Human Services Code of Conduct and all other relevant service contract requirement standards; ensuring a safe environment for all clients and staff; providing exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers; fostering a positive work environment; ensuring high-quality resident care within the scope of the assigned position.

Each employee is expected to clearly understand roles and responsibilities regarding the following: Specific job position, time management, personnel file requirements, client record system, incident reporting, mandatory training requirements, maintaining proper client boundaries, and individual rights of clients and staff.Physical Demands of the Job: Ability to lift up to 15 lbs., sit for prolonged periods, and perform light to moderate physical activity at times.

Pre-Employment Requirements: Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of required pre-employment screenings, which may include background checks, fingerprinting, applicable sex offender registry screenings for Adult Residential roles, and other position-related verifications. Roles requiring driving are subject to a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) review and a valid Utah driver’s license.

EEOC Statement: Odyssey House is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.