Anglophone Clinical Counsellor

Title: Registered Clinical Counsellor - Adult Program (Grid12).

Location: Surrey B.C.

Position Status: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

Reports to: MHSU Medical Manager.

Compensation: $42.27 - $52.81.

Job Summary:

The Clinical Counsellor provides counselling and support to individuals (Adult program) experiencing mental health and substance use issues. This position facilitates the recovery and capacity building of residents to maximize their social and economic, and other life potentials and support their goals for successful independent living in the community. This may include confidential individual or group counselling; tailored client care plans; and referrals for additional treatment. The position will also provide education to individuals and groups on mental health and addiction related topics. The Clinical Counsellor is familiar with other services and resources in the community and works closely to provide information and support when required.

Responsibilities:

Program Management:

1. Conduct integrated services assessment interviews, ensuring clients’ privacy and the confidentiality of their personal information.
2. Assess clients’ suitability for the program and makes referrals to other agencies when necessary.
3. Orient clients to the program by educating them on recovery maintenance, relapse prevention, and personal and life management.
4. Maintain accurate client records (e.g., assessment data, client care plan, goal setting, case notes and discharge summaries, behaviour contracts, incident reports, medication logs, etc.), reports, and statistics required by management.
5. Ensure that all required documentation is complete and on time.
6. Work with the integrated addiction services team on clients’ case planning and concerns. Ask for assistance from colleagues and/or managers when required. Communicate with clients’ case managers, care teams, social workers, probation services, etc., as required.
7. Make arrangements for facilities and materials necessary for group sessions.
8. Assist with program evaluation and obtain client feedback through questionnaires and surveys on services provided.

Client Services:

1. Act as a positive role model, coach, advisor and leader for clients.
2. Teach clients effective social and interpersonal skills through daily groups and through the tasks of appropriate daily living and social activities.
3. Create and maintain a therapeutic environment following therapeutic community principles which encourage awareness of interdependence of community members and the value of responsible concern for oneself and others.
4. Work with clients and the integrated addiction services team to develop client care plans (e.g., health, housing, education, employment, etc.), recovery maintenance plans and relapse prevention plans.
5. Assist clients with identifying high risk situations, relapse prevention planning and responding should a relapse occur (e.g., processing, safety planning, etc.).
6. Monitor clients’ progress and modify client care plans as necessary.
7. Orient client volunteers and provide coaching, guidance, and feedback on assigned tasks.
8. Identify and act on changing dynamics of groups by assessing verbal and non-verbal responses and checking in regularly with participants.
9. Act on issues that affect the safety and stability of the residential program environment.

Counselling:

1. Respond appropriately and effectively to clients who are typically in various stages of recovery, have difficulty self-regulating and problem solving, and who may have physical, mental, social, legal and financial challenges.
2. Demonstrate a working knowledge of accepted counselling approaches, i.e., solution-focused therapy, addiction counselling, cognitive re-structuring, behaviour therapy, and client-centred therapy with the focus on building the client’s internal capacity and potential to change.
3. Act as an approachable, friendly, and ethical representative of the Society by building rapport with clients, enhancing clients' motivation for positive change and encouraging clients to make healthy lifestyle choices.
4. Provide individual and group counselling to clients affected by substance use, mental health challenges, trauma, homelessness, criminal justice involvement and other poverty related issues in a professional and ethical manner, reflecting evidence-based practices and clinical experience.
5. Explore the nature of clients’ problems and their meaning for the client and significant others.
6. Assist clients in problem solving and decision-making by fostering the client’s ability to recognize problems and to determine paths of solutions.
7. Help the client mobilize resources to resolve their problems and/or modify attitudes and values.
8. Facilitate learning of healthy choices, coping skills, relationships and boundaries; effective communication and conflict resolution; and positive parenting techniques.
9. Respond to clients' requests and crises in a responsible, timely and flexible manner.
10. Respond to the feelings, attitudes, values, and concerns of clients with empathy and respect for their life journey.
11. Facilitate Relapse prevention and Transitional Housing Community meetings.

Qualifications:

1. A Masters Degree in counselling and registration with BCACC.
2. 3 to 5 years of experience in community social services sector and working with marginalized populations, substance use services, mental health, corrections, etc., or equivalent.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the population health framework, social determinants of health, the biopsychosocial model of addiction, and concurrent disorders.
4. Satisfactory completion of a criminal records check with vulnerable sector screening is required.
5. Satisfactory completion of Tuberculosis Screening form is required.
6. Satisfactory completion of Employee Immunization Record form is required along with Covid19 immunization records.

Skills & Knowledge:

1. Excellent knowledge of the issues pertaining to recovery, substance use, concurrent disorders, homelessness, and addictions counselling.
2. Good knowledge of the BC Mental Health Act.
3. Good knowledge of facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution techniques.
4. High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
5. Strong case management, teaching/training, clinical support and consultation skills.
6. Strong therapeutic skills in the areas of individual and group therapy with adults with substance use and/or concurrent disorders.
7. Strong skills in Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, and database management systems.
8. Strong problem solving, analytical, and creative skills with the ability to exercise sound judgement and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
9. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English.
10. Ability to make effective referrals, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources and strong relationships with community partners.
11. Ability to lead and work in a trauma-informed practice.
12. Demonstrated commitment to the social sector with a passion for the organization’s mission is essential.

Competencies:

Approach to Work:

1. Demonstrates initiative, flexibility, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
2. Actively seeks and incorporates feedback to inform continuous self-improvement.
3. Sets goals, creates, and implements action plans, monitors progress, and evaluates results.
4. Adeptly manages competing tasks and uses time efficiently and effectively.
5. Has good professional boundaries.
6. Documentation must be complete by the end of each shift, rather than a last minute approach.

Job Knowledge & Quality of Work:

1. High degree of relevant and current job knowledge and skill.
2. Consistently produces accurate, thorough, high-quality work in a timely manner.
3. Builds and promotes a culture of health and safety in the workplace.
4. Implements and enforces best practices in health and safety within the workplace.

Judgement & Decision-Making:

1. Models independent thinking and creativity.
2. Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills.
3. Makes clear, consistent, transparent, and timely decisions after contemplating various available courses of action.
4. Exercises sound judgment in the best interests of the organization.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills:

1. Expresses themselves clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing.
2. Displays high emotional intelligence; uses tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential situations.
3. Has a manner, style and presence that makes a positive impression.
4. Listens to and considers others’ views.

Personal Leadership:

1. Models the organization’s core values of social justice, teamwork, social innovation, and strength-based practices.
2. Fosters enthusiasm, energy and commitment.
3. Takes responsibility for personal actions, performance and health.
4. Is reliable and accountable; shows up on time ready to work.
5. Supervises practicum students and acts as a role model.

Teamwork & Collaboration:

1. Effectively works with their colleagues to ensure organizational success.
2. Champions positive working relationships with staff and external stakeholders.
3. Supports an environment of openness, and champions teamwork and communication across programs.
4. Leverages the expertise and experience of others for organizational success.

Salary: Salary for this role is between $42.27 - $52.81 per hour.

Closing Details:

Closing Date: Internal applications will be accepted until 22nd September 2024 at 5:00pm.

“All employees, including laid off and displaced employees, are entitled to apply on the vacancy and be considered pursuant to the provisions of Article 12.9.” Internal applicants must notify manager of intent to apply.