Mental Health and Addictions Outreach Counsellor Position Posting
North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society
Job Summary:
The Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor works within a multi-disciplinary team to provide prevention, assessment, referral, clinical counselling and follow up services to individuals and family members affected by mental health and substance use issues, more specifically individuals who identify as Indigenous.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor provides counselling and support to individuals and families experiencing mental health and addictions. Specifically, engaging the Indigenous population in the North Okanagan in culturally competent services. This may include confidential individual, family or group counselling about the causes and effect of mental health and addictions, support for families and/or referrals for additional treatment. The Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor will also provide education to individuals and groups in the community with a focus on mental health and addictions related topics such as suicide prevention, substance use, anxiety and depression, and other related topics. The Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor will be familiar with other services and resources in the North Okanagan community and work closely with other agencies to provide information and support when needed. The Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor also facilitates Wellbriety using Indigenous cultural techniques. The North Okanagan Friendship Center Society (NOFCS) seeks an Indigenous person for this position.
Responsibilites
- Provide mental health and addictions counselling and support to individuals, families, and groups in the community. Answer phone calls and inquiries concerning available programs and services.
- Provide mental health and counselling regarding the cause, symptoms and prevention strategies or various mental health diagnoses.
- Provide counselling regarding the use and effects of alcohol and drug
- Prepare needs and risk
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues.
- Provide outreach counselling in the
- Accept and make referrals to outside
- Maintain strict confidentiality guidelines regarding all clients, conversations, and referrals.
- Maintain a management record system to document all client encounters in a timely manner.
- Coordinate and facilitate education workshops on mental health and addiction related topics in the community and via webinars.
- Prepare funding proposals for mental health and addiction programs and initiatives, as needed and when there is a viable opportunity.
- Collaborate with the office support staff who function as a communication coordinator to develop promotional materials and information for health promotion initiatives.
- Attend and participate in community and organizational
- Record and maintain statistics of number of clients counselled and activities participated in and preparation of quarterly reports to the funding partner as per their guidelines.
Provide Treatment Referrals
- Assist individuals to identify their need for treatment
- Be aware of and liaise with treatment
- Assist clients to meet all
- Assess funding for treatment
- Liaise with community agencies and supports on behalf of clients.
- Complete treatment Centre
- Complete Admission and Discharge Criteria and Assessment
- Arrange transportation for clients to and from treatment
- Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment
- Understand the needs of clients so that the best services and supports can be sourced.
Prepare and Facilitate Mental Health and Addictions Programs
- Prepare proposals for program funding, as
- Develop and facilitate Mental Health and Addictions related group counselling such as Structured Relapse Prevention, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Wellbriety. Oversee and supervise other program areas such as Mother’s for Recovery group provide support and information as needed, and the Perinatal Substance Abuse Outreach program and the Men’s Wellness Wellbriety group.
- Assist where appropriate with the Father’s Support Program.
- Conduct a Needs Assessment/SWOT Analysis for proposed
- Collaborate with community partners with developing
- Prepare program evaluations and analyze results with a view to continued learning and improvement.
Other Duties as Assigned
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Registered Social Worker in good standing with the BC College of Social Workers or a suitable combination of education and work experience.
Key Knowledge/Experience
- Experience working with people struggling with mental health and addiction problems.
- Practice from a harm reduction
- Comprehensive knowledge of client centered mental health and addictions interventions, practice methods and professional skills.
- Knowledge of community resources, treatment centres, social service networks and organizations.
- Knowledge of funding agencies available to assist clients in assessing needed support services and community resources.
- Working knowledge of computer software (email, internet) and Microsoft Office applications (Work, Outlook) and a management record system.
Skills
- Advocacy
- Strong interpersonal skills to work with diverse client groups with varying levels of comprehension and language capability.
- Effective listening, observation, and facilitation skills to effectively assess clients and provide appropriate treatment and consultation.
- Strong mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to respond or assist in emergency situations.
- Strong collaboration skills to manage service delivery in conjunction with case managers, clients, their family members/caregivers, and other health care professionals.
- Ability to deal with demanding interpersonal situations and respond with good judgment and understanding.
- Ability to communicate information effectively through a variety of means including meetings, reports, letters, and presentations.
- Advanced oral and written communication skills and maintain a wide range of contacts with health care professionals and community organizations. Demonstrated ability to analyze and make independent decisions.
- Ability to think critically and be innovative to create, modify strategy or intervention techniques to suit the individual needs of diverse Preference to those who identify as Indigenous.
- Valid BC Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for NOFCS business. Must provide a Criminal Record Check with vulnerable sector screening.
Health and Safety Commitment
- Comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, its regulations and all the NOFCS health and safety policy and procedures. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation and the OHS provision of the Workers Compensation Act contain legal requirements for workplace health and safety that must be met by all workplaces under the inspection jurisdiction of WorkSafe BC.
- Use or wear any protective equipment, device, or clothing as Report immediately to your supervisor any known missing or defective equipment or protective device that may be dangerous.
- Report any known workplace hazard to your
- Report dangerous… violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act or regulations to your supervisor.
- Commit to knowing how to use or operate any equipment, including
motor vehicles, and cell phones; or work in a way that may endanger yourself or any other worker.
- Commit to not engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough or boisterous conduct.
- Attend all health and safety training as directed by your supervisor and apply this knowledge to your job.
Rate of Pay $32.00 to $34.00 per hour. 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Send resume and cover letter by mail or email to:
Ida Scott
Executive Director
North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society
2904 29 Avenue, Vernon BC
V1T 1Y7
Executive_director@nofcs.ca
Competition closes when position is filled
