Addictions Counsellor

**Job Title**:Addictions Counsellor

**Date Posted**: July 31, 2023

**Report to**:Supervisor
- Addictions
Program

**Job Posting #**ACON-10/2023-24

**Date Closed**:August 11, 2023

**Position Type**: Full Time

**Work Mode**:Hybrid Remote (can be fully in-person at any of PCSH Sites)

**About Organization**:
Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) is a pioneer community-based not-for-profit, charitable organization. PCHS has been fulfilling the needs of diverse populations for 33 years by providing services in addictions, mental health, geriatric, health promotion, domestic violence, parenting, settlement and services for women, children and youth. PCHS has several research studies to its credit and recognized as an innovative organization for community development and its Integrated Holistic Service Delivery Model. PCHS is accredited. PCHS is a 2SLGBTQ sensitive organization.

**About Position**:
This position will provide counselling, and outreach to increase access to additional community based services using harm reduction approach, guided self-change, relapse prevention, link to primary care if needed, follow up and after care. This position will help ‘boost access to community based withdrawal management services and addictions programs to ensure clients with opioid addictions have access to holistic supports that address the underlying factors leading to addiction’.

Addiction’s Counsellor will provide services to individuals with opioids addiction and improve the responsiveness of the health care system to opioids addiction. Responsibility of this position will be to provide brief intervention, lifestyle and personal counselling to assist clients to develop skills and manage opioids addiction/substance abuse and related problems, and/or maintain and enhance care plan. This is a mobile position, services will be provided in office setting and within the community as per service recipients’ needs

**Responsibilities**:

- One to one interventions including client engagement, assessment, developing a care plan, engaging in treatment, follow up and linking to appropriate resources
- Brief intervention, lifestyle and personal counselling to assist the clients to develop skills to manage substance abuse and related problems
- PCHS works from a family centered approach and the Counsellor will engage the family in the treatment of the client (where possible)
- Use harm reduction approach, guided self-change, relapse prevention, link to primary care if needed, follow up and after care
- Provide mobile services by reaching out to clients at: shelters, truck & taxi stands, and religious places
- Consider the issues and needs of the entire family
- Documentation and database management
- Responsive to relapsing nature of addictions
- Other related duties, as assigned

**Qualifications**:

- Preferred B.S.W. or University Degree in a health services field or a diploma in addictions field with at least two years of field experience or combination of equivalent education and experience.
- Preferred Registration with the qualification relevant regulatory body
- Addictions related trainings and qualifications are an asset
- Familiarity with GAIN-Q3 MI, DATIS-CATALYST, GAIN Short Screener and LOCUS tool is an asset
- Having a sound understanding of anti-oppressive practices and sound understanding of working within cultural safety and humility perspective
- Excellent computer skills in MS Office is a must
- Experience with counselling, documentation and database entry is a requirement
- Experience with harm reduction practices
- Familiarity with Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International standards is an asset
- Familiarity with Cloud technology and Share-Point is an asset
- Excellent written and inter-personal skills
- Languages preferred - Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu in addition to English
- Ability to work independently, as well as in a team setting

**Requirements**:

- Must possess a valid Ontario Driver's License, have regular access to a reliable vehicle and provide proof of adequate vehicle insurance
- A satisfactory current Vulnerable Sector Screening (Criminal Record Check) report
- Current CPR and First-Aid certification
- Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a job requirement unless you have an exemption on a medical ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

**Organizational Responsibilities**:

- Actively contribute to the mission, vision and values of PCHS
- Follow the organizational Code of Ethics and professional standards of your certification and your position in the organization
- Adhere to the policies and procedures of your program(s) and organization
- Perform the duties outlined in this job description
- Contribute in a positive way to the overall success of the program and organization
- Participate in the establishment of program goals and objectives and set service priorities based on it
- Demonstrate a positive and professional attitude when representi