Addictions Counsellor (Harm Reduction Focus)

BambooHR; Milton; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Join ADAPT as a Harm Reduction Case Manager, where you’ll provide essential support to clients, coordinate care, and engage in community outreach. You’ll collaborate with diverse professionals to create a positive impact in the lives of those in need, offering both preventive and educational services. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Social Work and a commitment to community health.

Benefits

Working with a diverse team

Flexible work hours

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of relevant experience in a related field.
• Experience in community development and networking.
• Basic life skills counselling and advocacy experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct clinical services, including assessment and treatment planning.
• Facilitate implementation of treatment plans and client support.
• Collaborate with community partners and conduct public awareness.

Skills

Communication

Client Advocacy

Crisis Intervention

Counselling Skills

Cultural Competency

Education

University degree/diploma in Social Work

Addiction/Concurrent Disorders studies certification

Job description

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.
• Supports the client in addressing basic needs which may include creation of a crisis and/ or safety plan, referral/ advocacy/ assistance in navigating to and applying for services like primary care, housing, immigration, justice, education, employment, financial supports (OW or ODSP), and/ or life skills instruction.
• 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 Health Act and PHIPA.
• CBT/DBT/MI counselling skills an asset.
• Demonstrated skill in addiction assessment and treatment.
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge about concurrent disorders.
• Knowledge of and comfort with the outreach approach to treatment.
• Comfort and experience with Harm Reduction as a treatment approach/philosophy.
• 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, LGBTQ+ communities, and others.
• Knowledge of French language an asset
• Must undergo a police record check

OTHER SKILLS

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and staff through both oral and written means
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Attention to detail and effective documentation capabilities
• Ability to build effective rapport and active listening skills
• Keen sense of ethical boundaries and confidentiality obligations
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadline
• Proficient in computer skills and experience with electronic medical record systems;

WORK CONDITIONS

• Community: public places, community partner sites and clients’ homes and/ or ADAPT busy office environment.
• Able to fulfill all duties and work hours from a remote/home location, whenever required;
• Able to work 37.5hrs/week; flexibility is requires when meeting clients’ needs in evenings and on occasional weekends;
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
• Various physical actions of mobility are required (minimal lifting, sitting for periods of time, moderate wrist motions).

TRANSPORTATION

To successfully fulfill duties of the role, current valid driver's licence and regular access to a dependable vehicle is required

ABOUT US

ADAPT (Halton Alcohol Drug and Gambling Assessment Prevention and Treatment Services) is one of the largest and most diversified treatment agencies in Ontario. We offer a full spectrum of services to clients experiencing concerns with addictions, mental health or concurrent disorders, as well as to their families and loved ones.

At ADAPT we are committed to building a warm, inclusive, and diverse environment. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset; that they will do their best work when they feel supported and empowered. That is why we offer an attractive compensation and benefits package.

You may be a great candidate even if you don’t have everything listed above. We believe in growth and curiosity. If you have some of these qualities and believe this is the position that will make you excited, then we want to hear from you!

At ADAPT, we strive to be an equitable and inclusive employer. Our commitment to equity is grounded in an institution-wide commitment to achieving a working, environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

ADAPT seeks candidates from First Nations, Métis and Inuit, racialized and LGBTQ2S+ communities, women, and people with disabilities (including people who have experienced mental health and substance use challenges).

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

All new hires must be fully compliant with our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy as a condition of employment with ADAPT. Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a documented medical exemption as part of the hiring process.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, ADAPT will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs to ensure your equal participation.

All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

We thank all those who apply but only those individuals selected for further consideration will be contacted.