POSITION DETAILS

Posting #: 32076
Department: Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST)
Employee Type: Temporary, Full Time
If Temporary, Number of Weeks: 26
Union: OPSEU
Openings Remaining: 1

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Support Counsellor – Addiction Specialist participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and provides crisis intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and support services to persons with severe and persistent mental illness allowing them to live successfully in the community by demonstrating best practice competencies in psychosocial rehabilitation. The Community Support Counsellor - Addiction Specialist is a primary resource to the team regarding addictions assessments, interventions and programming and contributes generically to all team services of rehabilitation, treatment, and support. Facilitation of case conferences will be part of the role. Individual will be required to work independently or in collaboration with team members in the community setting.

UNIT SUMMARY FOR THE RAPID INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT TEAM:

The Rapid Intervention and Support Team (RIST) will be a partnership between the Hamilton Police Service, the Hamilton Paramedic Service, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Wesley Urban Ministries, the Hamilton Region Indian Centre, the YMCA, and Interval House. The Rapid Intervention and Support Team will be built upon the existing Social Navigator Program which consists of a Program Coordinator, 2 Officers and 2 Paramedics. The addition of the 6 specialized civilian positions working alongside the existing Social Navigator Program will be what creates the new Rapid Intervention and Support Team (RIST). The RIST will offer 5 days a week coverage. RIST will focus on supporting those who are homeless, experience mental illness and those who struggle with addiction. The goal of the team will be to help marginalized individuals by offering in the moment supports, helping them navigate social service and healthcare system, and referring to appropriate services and offering follow up supports in order to help improve their quality of life and decrease their negative interaction with police and decrease emergency visits.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Sociology preferred or relevant discipline OR two year community college diploma in human services or relevant field required
• Registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) preferred
• Evidence of ongoing advanced addictions education from an accredited educational institution required
• Completion of a certificate program in addictions/concurrent disorders from an accredited educational institution preferred
• Two (2) years recent related experience working in a mental health setting utilizing an evidence informed concurrent disorder framework required
• Two (2) years case management experience in a community based setting
• One (1) year specific experience in a primary addictions/concurrent disorder setting preferred
• Completion of Level 3 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training preferred
• Completed of TEACH Tobacco Cessation training preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of the stages of change model and the ability to utilize stage specific interventions
• Demonstrated ability to administer addiction specific screening tools (ie. CAGE-AID, GAIN Short Screener, DALI, TWEAK, MAST/DAST).
• Demonstrated competence in the facilitation of addictions/concurrent disorders specific groups
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement integrated treatment plans (related to relapse prevention and harm reduction) in collaboration with other involved service providers within the hospital and community providers
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to access formal and informal community services and resources
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to function effectively in a team
• Demonstrated sound understanding of the principles of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
• Demonstrated proficiency and working knowledge of MS Word and Outlook
• Demonstrated familiarity with Mental Health legislation and reform and consumer/survivor issues
• Valid driver’s licence, adequate insurance, and consistent access to a reliable vehicle required

Please refer the Job description for details