Addictions Counsellor 2

**JOB POSTING: ADDICTION SERVICES CENTRAL ONTARIO -**

**JOB POSTING 2024.31FT**

**ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR 2 - OUTREACH**

Supporting other teams, programs and services as required

**Permanent Full-time**

**ASCO **unites to support individuals to achieve their goals by offering hope and promoting well-being. Addiction Services Central Ontario takes pride in its passion for client service. Each day presents new opportunities to demonstrate leadership and expertise in addictions to the community. ASCO embraces a holistic, biological, psychological, social and spiritual approach to addiction. A holistic approach places the person at the centre. The agency uses a harm reduction approach in addiction treatment and equally respects individuals who choose abstinence or harm reduction. ASCO’s three strategic priorities are: Develop Our People, Drive System Leadership in Integrated Care and Advance Clinical and Operational Excellence.

**Addiction Services Central Ontario** is seeking an experienced, highly motivated and energetic individual to work as an Addictions Counsellor 2**_ _**within our Outreach Program. This position will be supporting other teams, programs and services within ASCO as required.

With ASCO’s current increase of in-person services, this position will be based in the Aurora office location, as well as other satellite office locations and clinics including York Region, North York and South Simcoe, reporting to the Assigned Supervisor. The incumbent will provide direct service to an assigned caseload of clients presenting with addictions and/or mental health concerns and their families in accordance with the agency's guidelines.

ASCO is required to follow all public health and provincial directives as well as of those of our Ontario Health Team partners as related to the pandemic and other health issues that may come forward, including but not limited to vaccination requirements.

The Addictions Counsellor 2 position is a** **full-time permanent position, for 35 hours per week, with a minimum of two evenings per week, weekend work is also expected (i.e., some Saturdays). Outreach Duties on the LOFT Outreach Van are required. The hourly wage rate is $34.44.

**Why work at ASCO?**
- 3 weeks’ Vacation to start; 4 weeks after one year of continuous service
- HOOPP Pension Plan for Full-time and Part-time permanent staff
- 3 Flex Days to be taken throughout the year
- 15 days’ Paid Personal time
- Education Allowance provided up to $300 per fiscal year
- 5 Education Days per fiscal year provided for personal and professional development
- Comprehensive Benefits package
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Various employer-paid training programs
- Mileage reimbursement when required
- Free on-site parking
- Goodlife Corporate Membership available
- Perkopolis Membership available

**Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to**:

- Assess the level, pattern, and dynamics of the alcohol and/or drug use by an individual, as well as the client’s overall functioning, including physical and mental health, and their social location including social status and support network dynamics.
- Evaluate specific aspects of the client's functioning by using tools and processes designed for specialized assessment purposes.
- Re-assess the client's substance use, functioning, and situation regularly & in consultation with the larger interdisciplinary RAAM team.
- Develop a treatment plan and select appropriate treatment strategies on the basis of information gathered through the assessment processes.
- Provide either written or verbal information regarding the assessment findings and the case formulation to the client and to referral sources that request this information, including physicians, NPs working to support the medical aspect of the client’s care.
- Redirect individuals whose assessed needs cannot be met on a short-term, outpatient basis to appropriate specialized (e.g. medical, psychiatric, inpatient or day addictions treatment, family therapy) programs.
- Provide formal, structured follow-up and intervene as necessary and appropriate.
- Provide consultation and problem-solving assistance to professional colleagues and members of the community who are concerned about substance abuse and mental health of an individual who is not likely to become a client of the agency.
- Assist the client to identify problems and goals.
- Develop and implement, with the client, a formal, systematic, and ongoing goal setting process that includes; identification of perceived problems, negotiation of specific functional targets and attendant courses of action as well as ongoing re-evaluation of the goals and plans.
- Provide skills teaching to clients and/or staff in selected areas of functioning attendant to rehabilitation for substance abuse through general instruction.
- Formal skills teaching to clients and/or staff using counselling approaches, skills coaching and related activities.
- Support and gui