Addictions Counsellor

Become part of the ADAPT team; the team that makes a difference, supports its employees in their career development and creates a positive environment to work in.

**POSITION: Harm Reduction Case Manager**

**LOCATION**:Halton Region (Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown)

**WHAT'S THERE FOR YOU?**

You will work with a fun, cooperative and diverse team. This group will provide you many opportunities to learn from other professions and enhance your skills and abilities when providing services to your clients. It's an interesting role, with excellent work-life balance.

**SUMMARY**

The Harm Reduction Case Manager works as a member of the greater outreach & case management programming at ADAPT) The Harm Reduction Case Manager provides preventive, educational and/or supportive care. Services will include community outreach, harm reduction & withdrawal education, immediate safety planning including overdose prevention information, comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, referral and bridging to other ADAPT programming, counselling, monitoring of health status, case management, referral/ advocacy/ system navigation to community partners based on client need and transitional case planning.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**_ Direct Clinical Services_**: co-ordinates and participates in the direct clinical care of individuals with complex needs with a portion of those who are currently or formerly opioid/ polysubstance users at high risk of relapse or overdose, specifically:

- Provides a full range of assessment, treatment planning, counselling, and case management services, including specialized opioid/ polysubstance use and assessment services through a combination of diagnostic tools, individual structured interviews and motivational interviewing. Completes initial safety planning education for all assigned clients including harm reduction, withdrawal information, safe withdrawal management planning (including referral to CWMS programming or other supervised withdrawal), overdose prevention education, and supervised medical treatment like OAT.
- Assesses both short and long term existing and potential risks to the client’s health and safety and educates/plans for these accordingly.
- Develops a comprehensive treatment plan in partnership with the client (and additional health care providers where appropriate) that is based on thorough review of assessment information and a harm reduction approach to change.
- Facilitates the implementation of the treatment plan including the provision of individual counselling, coordination and monitoring of appropriate and timely referrals to additional programs /services (e.g. inpatient programs, mental health services, medical care services).
- Completes regular reviews of treatment plan and client progress with treatment goals and identifies revisions to planning as required.
- Identify and establish a circle of care of family/ friends/ other informal supports who will voluntarily support the treatment plan (and consents obtained if needed) toward identifying and building social capital and community supports/ social and recreational activities (including culturally specific supports) and establishing pathways to lesser intensive services or graduation from service.
- Collaborates with community partners through case conferences and consultation for the purposes of coordinated case management and client care, substance use and substance dependence education.
- Facilitate psycho-educational client groups as well as groups for family and friends as required.
- Participates in community education and public awareness events as required.

**EDUCATION**

University degree/ diploma in Social Work and/ or Health-related field plus Addiction/ Concurrent Disorders studies certification, or equivalent combination of experience and education.

**LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS**
- Registered Social Worker (RSW) designation with the Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario or Registered Nurse/ Registered Practical Nurse with the College of Nursing of Ontario is an asset.
- Current CPR and First Aid certification is required.
- ASIST training or equivalent is required.
- CPI training is required.

**RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE**

Minimum of 1-3 years of relevant experience.

Experience in:

- Community development and networking;
- Record keeping and file management;
- Basic life skills counselling, supportive counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, and group work;
- Managing clients with complex needs in varying stages of change;

**REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE**
- Working knowledge of substances and withdrawal symptoms, with strength in complex care, opioid and polysubstance use and withdrawal, risk mitigation to relapse and overdose.
- Good knowledge of mental health issues and related legislation, specifically Ontario’s Mental He