Position Title: Jail-Based MAT Counselor/Patient Navigator

Department: Addictions/MAT

Reports to: Jail Based MAT Program Manager

Salary Range: Unlicensed: $51,125

Location: Gainesville, FL

Revised: 5/5/2025

Join our community of compassionate Meridians, today!

Why Meridian?
Meridian Healthcare treats patients who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders. Our team of Meridians has been treating these conditions with humanity and compassion for more than 50 years. We have patient service centers conveniently located in 13 counties throughout North Central Florida. Do you believe in hope, empathy, accountability, resilience, and teamwork [H.E.A.R.T.]? Join our community of compassionate Meridians, today!
We want you! We welcome your knowledge, experience, story and expertise

Who are we looking for?

· Master's degree in criminal justice, social work, psychology, sociology, public health, or a related field.

· At least one year of experience in a relevant field.

· Licensed or eligible for licensure in counseling or a similar discipline, preferably in substance abuse.

· Must have a current Florida Driver's License with a clean driving record while meeting company insurance requirements.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Provide screening, assessment, treatment, and linkage and referral services within the jail and post-release in the community.

2. Use evidence-based, trauma-informed screening and assessment tools and intervention models.

3. Employ motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy as part of the treatment regime.

4. Develop treatment plans that are measurable, use best practices, and indicate significant participation by the patient in the treatment plan documentation and in the delivery of services.

5. Demonstrate behaviors that recognize the rights of patients, respect diversity, and show sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding of other cultures.

6. Comply with rules related to Personal Health Information and ensure information is shared with other providers as directed by the patient in a manner consistent with Center policy and HIPAA requirements.

7. Work effectively with others, be part of a team, and be willing to take on new tasks and responsibilities when requested.

8. Complete urine drug screens on patients, observed and unobserved, and complete alcohol breathalyzer tests on patients.

9. Provide effective and accurate documentation in progress notes, discharge summaries, and other required reports.

10. Coordinate and deliver clinical services, including family, group, and individual therapy for assigned patients, which may include scheduled and unscheduled clients.

11. Accept other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.

Supervision:

· Counselors/Patient Navigators are supervised at least monthly by individuals credentialed to conduct clinical supervision.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

· Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

· Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

· Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

· Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

· Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

· Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

· Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demand:

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.

· The employee will be regularly required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

· Work environment is usually moderately noisy.

Physical Activities:

· Stand: Frequently Required

· Walk: Frequently Required

· Sit: Frequently Required

· Use hands to finger, handle or feel: Frequently Required

· Reach with hands and arms: Frequently Required

· Climb or balance: Occasionally Required

· Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl: Occasionally Required

· Talk or hear: Regularly Required

· Taste or smell: Not Required

Our Hiring Process:

• We pre-screen your application. If we find that your skills are a match for the position you applied for, we will then send your resume over to the hiring manager to schedule an interview.

• If the interview is successful our talent acquisition recruiter from Human Resources Department will reach out to you with a verbal job offer and send over your background check paperwork as well as your follow up & next steps email.

• After you have cleared the background screening process our talent acquisition team will then send you an overview with expectations for New Employee Orientation start date.

Our team is committed to helping you grow into the best version of yourself you were always meant to be. Thank you for considering joining the Meridian family!
How to apply:
If you are interested in making an impact while positively impacting the community apply below.

Simply apply through this website or visit us directly at https://meridian.e3applicants.com/careers/

Join us in our mission to bring education about mental illnesses and substance use disorders and the treatment of those affected to the world.

We transform communities from the inside out.

Meridian is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, age, marital status, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service or because they are a protected veteran or other non-merit-based factors.