Addiction Counsellor

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ontario Public Service is seeking an Addiction Counsellor at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to deliver rehabilitative services in a correctional setting. You will work with diverse offenders and a multi-disciplinary team to implement addiction counselling programs.

Responsibilities include counselling individuals or groups, participating in treatment planning, and coordinating with community resources to support reintegration.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of current addiction counselling theories and practices.
• Understanding risk and needs assessment in offender populations.
• Knowledge of community resources and discharge planning.
• Familiarity with rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
• Ability to apply relevant legislation and organizational policies.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing addiction counselling programs.
• Participate in inter-professional committee on addictions and reintegration.
• Provide individual or group addiction counselling for offenders.
• Contribute to case conferences, treatment planning, and discharge planning.
• Coordinate with community agencies and resources for offender support.
• Facilitate recognized addiction assessments.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Addiction counselling

Risk assessment tools

Criminal justice knowledge

Inter-professional collaboration

Discharge planning

Job description

1 Temporary up to 6 months with the possibility of extension

Job code:

10218 - Rehabilitation Officer 2, Correctional Services

$1,213.06 - $1,484.47 Per week* *Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Are you looking for an opportunity to apply and expand your expertise in addictions and substance abuse while making a difference in the lives of others?

Consider the role of Addiction Counsellor with the Ministry of the Solicitor General at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, where you will have a unique chance to work with diverse clients as well as a multi-disciplinary team to deliver meaningful services within a correctional environment.

About the job

• Assist in the development of addiction counselling programs
• Contribute as part of an inter-professional committee focusing on addictions and re-integration of offenders
• Provide rehabilitative addiction counselling services by working with individual or groups of offenders
• Participate in case conferences, treatment planning meetings, discharge planning conferences, and contacting family members, to assist in the coordination of treatment of offenders within the institution
• Liaise with community agencies and self-help organizations, citizen's groups, business, industries, colleges and universities
• Facilitate the completion of recognized addiction assessments
• Other duties, as required

What you bring to the team

Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• You have knowledge of current addiction counselling theories, practices and counselling techniques, substance abuse indicators, group/individual counselling strategies and referral network in the community
• You have understanding of risk and needs assessment tools, criminogenic factors, rehabilitation theories, and related counselling practices
• You have knowledge of community agencies and resources to identify and arrange the appropriate support and discharge resources
• You understand the various sectors involved in the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates after release (i.e. mental health agencies, shelters, employment services, etc.)
• You are able to apply relevant legislation as well as demonstrated ability to acquire knowledge of and follow organizational policies and procedures

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• You are able to connect and build rapport with a diverse client population with varied cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds as well as complex needs
• You have experience providing one-on-one and group counselling
• You are able to effectively communicate with correctional staff, other professionals, and external agency stakeholders
• You have written communication skills to prepare correspondence and accurate reports
• You have tact and diplomacy to handle requests and respond to inquiries
• Proficiency with computer software and databases

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• You can determine offender/program needs based on input from institutional staff and offenders
• You have reasoning skills to assess an individual's treatment readiness and motivation
• You can resolve issues or matters pertaining to offender participation
• You have organizational skills to prioritize and manage workload

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province.

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance-based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

Additional information:

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 6 months, Hwy 61 South, Thunder Bay, North Region, Vulnerable Sector Check, Credit History Check, Local Police Databases Search, PIP/NICHE/RMS
• A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities. If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in. Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.