Addiction Counsellor

Company Description

One of Canada's Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto's Top Employers for many consecutive years, William Osler Health System (Osler) provides a safe and supportive health care network to grow your career. Osler is nationally recognized for its commitment to patient safety and is Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest rating a Canadian hospital can receive. As a major Ontario hospital system, and home to some of the biggest specialty and emergency departments in the country, Osler serves the 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke and surrounding communities. We are proud to offer you incredible exposure to best-in-class health care delivery and challenging hands-on opportunities to stay at the top of your game.

A hospital system built for and by the community, we continue to expand our services to meet the needs of a growing population, creating opportunities for increased hands-on skills development, cross-department training and promotional opportunities. Guided by our accomplished senior leadership team, together we are driving our vision of patient-inspired health care without boundaries.

At Osler, we invest in careers that go beyond where health care professionals like you can achieve their goals and find deep personal and professional fulfillment. Join our team today

**Job Description**:
The Addiction Counsellor will work in partnership with the Osler Addiction Medicine Service to provide education and support to patients being provided services in the Emergency Department. The Addiction Counsellor will have a role in clinic co-ordination as well as direct patient care. This individual will have ongoing liaison with the crisis intervention team, Emergency Department, Withdrawal Management Centre and outpatient Mental Health staff to determine suitability of patients for addiction medicine consultation.

This role will provide the initial and ongoing assessment, treatment planning, brief intervention and counselling to assist the patient in developing skills to manage withdrawal, substance abuse and related problems. Counselling will be patient-centered and culturally appropriate.

Accountabilities:

- Work collaboratively with the Osler Addiction Medicine Service; ensure coordination as well as responsiveness and accessibility of addiction medicine consultation and education on addiction medicine
- Collaborate with community partners (Peel Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre, Punjabi Community Health Services and Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin) to facilitate referrals to community addiction services as well as other supportive services as required
- Follow up with clients to ensure that seamless linkages are in place to optimize treatment outcomes
- Conduct risk and psychosocial assessments using validated tools
- Engage patients, using motivational counselling and other modalities, within a harm reduction and stages of change framework
- Provide individual and group counselling as appropriate
- Establish crisis management plans with each client and to provide crisis intervention as necessary
- Assist with the development, implementation and evaluation of the program
- Utilize CATALYST and other required data collection and reporting systems
- Complete all client documentation, including referral forms, as required and in a timely manner
- Participate in staff and other meetings, both internal and external as required

**Qualifications**:

- Undergraduate degree in counselling in a related field (required)
- Post-graduate certificate in addiction and or concurrent disorders
- Registration with a college that authorizes the practice of psychotherapy is preferred but not required (e.g., College of Social Workers, College of Psychotherapists)
- Demonstrated screening and assessment skills regarding appropriateness of non-medical withdrawal services
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the effects of withdrawal from alcohol and other substances
- Three years addiction (concurrent) counselling experience
- Knowledge of the substance abuse and gambling treatment system in Ontario
- Experience working in an addiction medicine setting including knowledge of opioid replacement therapy
- Demonstrated cultural competence and the ability to support a diverse patient population
- Demonstrated skill in addiction assessment and treatment
- Demonstrated experience in crisis counselling and motivational interviewing
- Ability to work independently as well as with multi-disciplinary teams, both internally and externally
- Knowledge of French and any other second language is an asset
- Excellent oral and written communication, organizational and problem-solving skills
- Excellent attendance, punctuality and work record
- Maintains a valid driver’s license and insurance and has the ability to travel within the central west region or adjacent regions as required
- Must demonstrate Osler's Values of Respect, Excellence, Service, Compassion, Innov