Addictions Counsellor, Safe Beds

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**:Addictions Specialist for the Safe Beds Program

**LOCATION**:Safe Beds facility in Oakville + outreach in Halton Region**

**SUMMARY**

As an integrated member of the Safe Beds team the Addictions Specialist will play a key role in supporting clients with substance use concerns and implementing preventative programming and supports. With a trauma informed lens, the Addictions Specialist will provide meaningful support to individuals in all stages of change.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Case Management Support_
- Acts as co-case manager alongside a CMHA staff and work collaboratively to complete case management duties as follows:

- Case Management Planning
- Assessments and Referrals
- Development of Individual Treatment Plans
- Support specific to life skills, daily living skills, conflict resolution, crisis intervention and prevention, budgeting assistance, community integration, etc.
- Documentation_
- Maintains up to date and accurate case notes, and act as an agent to the custodian for personal health records, as per the standards of the Personal Health Information Protection Act.
- Assessment/ Crisis Planning and Support_
- Creates a tangible substance use plan for all substance involved residents.
- Works collaboratively with CMHA staff on creation of a plan of care that will be utilized for residents in the program.
- Attends residents’ rooms on daily basis to encourage attendance in group/1:1’s, etc.; physically view client’s mental and physical state to determine a need for increased crisis support or if substance use is occurring.
- Books 1:1 with all substance involved clients at least weekly.
- Education/ Skills Building_
- Takes the lead in facilitating morning group.
- Provides psychoeducation rooted in best practices to staff and residents.
- Staff: once a month Addiction Specialist to provide psychoeducation to Safe Beds staff team on a topic the addiction specialist sees fit
- Residents: can be facilitated through regular 1:1s or group sessions
- Programming_
- Designs a curriculum outlining instructional material the programing will follow, which could include PowerPoint modules, worksheets and other sources of media.
- Facilitates programming in topics such as coping, triggers, stages of change, harm reduction, addiction and substance use education
- ADAPT Program and Community Support outside of Safe Beds Program_
- Assists client with continuing addictions goals when transitioning from the Safe Beds residential services to housing in the community;
- Continues to offer client counselling and case management support as needed post Safe Beds discharge;
- Provides support specific to life skills, daily living skills, conflict resolution, crisis intervention and prevention, budgeting assistance, community integration, etc.,
- Maintains a collaborative working relationship with housing partners;
- Harm Reduction Supply distribution_
- Distributes harm reduction supplies and educate/ counsel clients on safe use and harm reduction practices both within the Safe Beds program site and to ADAPT clients in the Community

**EDUCATION**
- University degree/ diploma in Social Work/ Social Service and/ or Health related field plus Addiction Studies certification, or equivalent combination of experience and education

**LICENSES, CERTIFICATION AND CREDENTIALS**
- Professional registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers an asset;
- GAIN certificate an asset;
- Non-violent crisis intervention, First Aid, CPR and ASIST certifications;

**RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE**
- At least 3 years working experience with clients 18 years of age and older in the area of addictions, and mental health; additionally, experience in transitional housing case management an asset;
- Experience in:

- Individual, family, and group therapy;
- 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**
- Broad knowledge of addictions treatments and explanatory theories (with an emphasis on harm-reduction), mental illness, and community resources is required;
- Ability to provide trauma-informed care is required;
- Ability to provide, or support the provision of, community withdrawal management services;
- Familiarity with community services and resources;
- Strong communication and active listening;
- Ability to: function independently, maintain effective working relationships with others, work effectively under pressure or deadlines and work outside regular office hours as required, use good judgement to make sound decisions;
- Interpersonal skills that require an attention to det