Information and Referral Specialist

_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**: Information & Referral Specialist-Clinical Intake
**LOCATION**:TBD (one of ADAPT locations)
- **This position will be classified as a permanent 1.0FTE**_
- **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**

Provides individuals seeking help for addiction-related problems with information, support, and guidance; connects clients to community resources; helps match people with services (enquiry service).

Overall, the incumbent:

- establishes rapport;
- conducts assessments and screenings;
- provides an informed choice of referrals;
- engages in follow-up;
- provides advocacy or crisis intervention if required.

The I&R Specialist-Clinical Intake will work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to identify and prioritize clients’ needs.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Assessing and Evaluating**:

- provides clinical intake and triaging;
- assesses and evaluates individuals’ needs, supports, strengths and barriers of individuals who seek assistance for addiction-related concerns;
- provides basic counselling to distressed caller - provides reassurance, support, and validation;
- conducts interviews, gathers relevant information about the individual's addiction history, substance use patterns, mental health status, and any co-occurring conditions to assist with case manager triage decisions;
**Providing Information (system navigation)**:

- communicates effectively with both clients and ADAPT counsellors/ case managers to bring about appropriate intervention and services for clients;
- provides general information to callers regarding ADAPT general information, client information and referral, and other community resources such as community health and social service agencies; links callers to other agencies when appropriate;
- contributes to service navigation resource development and provides basic service navigation for clients deemed not suitable; assists in communicating service recommendations to referral source and/or client.

**Referrals**:

- based on the assessment, refers individuals to appropriate addiction treatment programs at ADAPT, support groups, or other healthcare professionals and community organizations specializing in addiction treatment and other social services;
- maintains accurate and timely clinical documentation of referral information and referral status as referral progresses through the screening, triage and intake process.

**Documentation and data collection**:

- collects, tracks and reports statistical data reflecting services provided;
- contributes to the development and maintenance of a substantial library of addictions and other social service resources;
**General office/Reception duties, when needed;**
- Welcomes clients and guests and assists them in office navigation.

**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, CERTIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS**
- Information and Referral Specialist Certificate is an asset or commitment to obtain certification within a 2-year period.
- Registered Social Service Worker or certification with the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation is an asset;
- Current CPR and First Aid certification is required.
- ASIST training or equivalent is required.
- CPI training is required.

**RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE**
- 2 years of related experience preferably in a health care/ addictions and mental health/ social services/ community services providing service to clients via telephone and/or in person;
- Previous experience as Information and Referral Specialist is an asset;
**KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS**:

- Knowledge of addictions services and programs offered by ADAPT and externally in the community;
- Intermediate knowledge of addictions/ mental health treatments and explanatory theories;
- Ability to use interviewing skills to identify and respond to unique needs of individual callers;
- Ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services
- Cultural knowledge of key populations in Halton Region that will be served to address disparities in specific services
- Ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, and races
- Knowledge of the history of discrimination in America, particularly as it relates to race and racism, and how this history has led to disparities experienced by marginalized communities such as BIPOC, people with disabilities