Hub Counsellor

**PROGRAM AREA: Primary Health (Client Care)**

**EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full **time regular, ongoing**

**EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full **time 13 month contract
**HOURS/WEEK**: 28 - 35 hours per week (some evening and weekends may be required)**

**Our Vision**

Guelph CHC will be a leader in engaging the community to eliminate or reduce barriers to well-being resulting in improved health outcomes for all.

**Our Mission**

We reduce health inequities by providing interprofessional primary health services and community programs, focused on our priority populations, in collaboration with community partners.

**Our Values**

Innovation**, **Accountability**, **Person-Centred**, **Health Promotion**, **Excellence**, **Sustainability**, **Accessibility

Are you passionate about the Guelph CHC’s Vision, Mission and Values and working with our priority populations who are: homeless or at risk of homelessness, low income, newcomers to Canada with language barriers, moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues, moderate to severe disabilities, without access to primary care, aboriginal communities, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, LGBTQ+ populations, other marginalized groups, and vulnerable children and their families experiencing violence, family conflict, social isolation and attachment struggles? If you are passionate about Guelph CHC’s Vision, Mission, Values and priority populations and meet the below qualifications, we want to hear from you

The Guelph CHC in partnership with several organizations, is operating a low-barrier, accessible Health Hub geared to meeting the comprehensive primary care needs of individuals struggling with complex issues including, mental health, addictions, homelessness, and poverty. Clients coming to this clinic will have access to a comprehensive primary care team, including primary care providers, psychiatry, nurses, counsellors, outreach workers, peers and others who will work together to provide wrap-around care for clients and will be empowered to find creative solutions to quickly and effectively meet client needs.

Nested within the Hub is the Safer Supply Program, which is a harm reduction approach to addressing the overdose crisis. The goal of this program is to replace contaminated street drugs with safer prescription alternatives. Safer supply programs have been shown to be a powerful catalyst for engagement of clients, enabling connections to housing, employment and healthcare, supported by wraparound team-based care supports that are so integral to the program, and client’s success. The Safer Supply Program Counsellor sees clients of the program to provide trauma informed counselling, holistic assessment, connections to needed community services, and case management support.

The Safer Supply Counsellor:

- Is passionate about working with this client population
- Is flexible and adaptive
- Is a creative problem solver
- Is committed to working from a harm-reduction philosophy of care
- Believes in the value of team-based care and enjoys working in an environment

that empowers all members of the team to contribute in meaningful ways
- Enjoys being part of building something new, and has energy to provide

leadership to getting this new program off the ground

**PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES**
- Maximizes the functioning and independence of clients by providing psychosocial counselling using a trauma informed lens.
- Provides crisis, short term, and ongoing care to clients utilizing a variety of counselling techniques including motivational interviewing, CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.
- Ensures clients receive community support, and health, social and recreational services to which they are entitled, by acting as a client advocate.
- Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing consultation and services to the Safer Supply Team
- Develops stage-matched, client centred care plans
- Ensures appropriate treatment is delivered and maintains client records and correspondence within the safeguard of confidentiality.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Masters of Social Work, Certified Addiction Counsellor or other relevant education and experience in Social Work and Counselling
- Three to five years’ experience working with individuals who use substances in a community based setting
- Practices from a foundation informed by strengths based, trauma informed and harm reduction perspectives.
- Thorough knowledge of, and proficiency in, trauma counselling, holistic assessment, and system based thinking.
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of community resources, preferably Guelph and Wellington County resources.
- Ability to set goals and get results within a set timeline
- Ability to multitask and work independently
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Effective time management, decision making and organizational skills
- A good team member and supportive of interdisciplinary practice.
- High level of confidentiality
- Flexible towards change

If you are interes