Community Treatment Counsellor

**Job Title**:Community Treatment Counsellor

**Duration**:Full-Time, Permanent

**Location**:Welland,Niagara Region

**Hours of Work**:35 hours/week, with evening work as required

**Hourly Rate**: $27.21 - $33.51 per hour

**Reports To**:Director of Community Programs

**Posting Date**:Thursday March 28th, 2024

**Closing Date**: Thursday April 4th, 2024 at 4:00 pm

**Application Process: Please include a cover letter and resume**

**Position Summary**

The Counsellor provides services to clients participating in the agency’s Community Treatment Program. The Counsellor provides services on a daily basis through a continuum of functions that can include: initial and ongoing screening and assessment, treatment planning and ongoing adjustments as required, community treatment, referral and integration of required services, ongoing data entry and clinical file recording, advocacy, potential conjoint family services, group counselling, and collaboration with other service providers.

**Qualifications**
- A relevant degree plus two years of addiction counselling or a relevant diploma with 5 years of addiction counselling.
- Registered or in the process of registering with a regulatory college (i.e. Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario)
- Training in DBT, CBT and/or Solution-Focused Therapy would be considered an asset.
- Experience working in a trauma informed care setting.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification, preferred.
- Experience in harm reductions, safety planning and crisis intervention.
- Current criminal record check.
- Valid Driver’s license and insurance.
- Experience using Catalyst database.
- Proof of an approved completed series of a COVID-19 Vaccination.

**Skills and Abilities**
- Demonstrated ability to work co-operatively and negotiate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team of service providers.
- Effective written and oral communication skills, problem solving, advocacy and assessment skills
- Able to manage crisis and adverse situations with staff, clients and families.

**Details of Position/Hours of Work**

Regular work week is 35 hours/week

The Counsellor will be required to work at satellite offices throughout the Niagara region.

The salary range is $27.21 per hour to $33.51 per hour.

Eligible for health & dental benefits after 3 months and company pension after 6 months.

Regulatory College fees covered.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

**1. Entry Services**

Inquiry contact:

- Collect information in enough detail to determine the client’s immediate needs and to provide direction for the next step.
- Complete an intake with a person to determine if eligible for agency services, to complete the intake form and orient the client to services available at agency and process.

**2. Screening and Assessment**
- Conduct a standardized screening and assessment session (if required), using approved documents.
- Determine the client’s specific needs, goals, characteristics, problems and stage of change through motivational interviewing, mutual investigation or exploration.
- Provide clients with information about: the links between their problems and substance use /gambling, addictions treatment services and other community resources to address presenting issues and to initiate the treatment planning process by providing motivational feedback.

**3. Initial Treatment Planning**
- Negotiate individualized treatment plans, based on feedback from the screening and/or assessment results, the client’s strengths, prioritized problem areas, clinical judgement, client’s preference and readiness to change, and identification of potential barriers to treatment entry.
- Develop a clear plan of action; including client’s identified goals, treatment interventions, specific referral as appropriate, duration and frequency of on-going services.

**4. Community Treatment**
- Conduct individual or group counselling sessions, the frequency and length of sessions may vary depending on the client’s needs and program format.
- Maximize clients participation in treatment, community services and events and actively promote self-efficacy.
- Counselling includes brief intervention, lifestyle and personal counselling to assist individuals to develop skills to manage substance abuse and/or gambling and related problems, and/or maintain and enhance treatment goals.
- Community treatment services also include activities such as early intervention, relapse prevention, crisis intervention, family counselling, follow-up and aftercare.

**5. Client Liaison/Advocacy**
- Intervene on client's behalf, as requested or indicated, with other agency staff or other community services.
- Inform clients of office policies and grievance procedures when applicable.
- Maintain a professional counselling relationship between the client and counsellor.

**6. Administrative**
- Maintain a complete, accurate and comprehensive clinical rec