Substance Use Clinician, Indigenous Health

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $44.85 - $56.02 / hour Job Summary

Qualifications

Master's degree in Social Work, Clinical Counselling or other relevant health related discipline.

Experience

At least two (2) years' recent, related experience in a community or hospital psychiatric setting, or in a rapid response crisis stabilization function, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience will also be considered. To learn more about our MHSU programs and services, read employee insights, and current job vacancies, please visit this site: Fraser Health MHSU For more information, please visit Indigenous Talent - Careers at Fraser Health

Detailed Overview

The Substance Use Clinician, Indigenous Health supports care coordination and system navigation across substance use services, local service areas, and regional and provincial services, with an emphasis on reducing barriers to re-enter the system of care and facilitating timely treatment and rapid re-engagement of clients where appropriate and feasible. Provides culturally appropriate client and family-centered care through a trauma-informed approach and evidence-informed practice to Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals and families with alcohol and drug addictions, and with or without mental disorders. Working from a framework of cultural safety and humility, and as a clinician in a shared-team model, provides initial screening, intake, client assessment, treatment recommendations and plans, determines referral needs, follow-up support, provides therapy including group therapy, liaises regarding complex situations, provides group education, liaison with community resources for specialized services, counsels clients, and provides outreach as required. May be assigned as the “most responsible clinician” to specific clients dependent on their primary needs.

Responsibilities

• Performs initial screening of referrals of individuals with a focus on those who identify as Indigenous from other health care providers/agencies, family members, physicians and other sources to determine appropriate treatment based on client needs, urgency of request and best practices.
• Assesses client needs by gathering client information/history via phone interviews or other methods; seeking additional background information to perform initial assessment of client mental health status and risk to themselves or others and to determine priority of care, client eligibility, availability of resources, and service priorities; collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to determine best approach to care, assessing the need for emergent crisis intervention, and to facilitate virtual health connections.
• Provides first level intervention and support until formal treatment or further assessment can be conducted, such as short term brief interventions, follow-up, monitoring, and evaluating treatment outcomes.
• Provides short-term treatment/support and case management for complex situations including people in crisis through provision of services such as delivery of individual and group therapy to clients and families; developing and implementing recovery-oriented treatment options and plans through collaboration with clients and natural supports; providing comprehensive case consultation and follow-up support on treatment decisions in collaboration with other interdisciplinary team members.
• Facilitates client utilization of appropriate community services and rehabilitative programs through methods such as considering the client’s motivation and their stage in the treatment process, researching available services, liaising with service and program providers, providing advice and consultation to colleagues, and/or referring to other community resources as required.
• Provides referrals to appropriate community treatment alternatives and services, including residential programs, family therapy, marital and separation counselling, alcohol and drug treatment, victim assistance, employee assistance programs, clubhouses, transition homes, vocational programs, and other agencies.
• Utilizes available community resources such as volunteers, community groups, alternate care services and other service agencies to develop supportive and rehabilitative programs for clients and their families.
• Provides culturally appropriate education to clients with a focus on those who identify as Indigenous and their families, in accordance with theoretical models grounded in evidence-based practice, by exploring identified problems that may have resulted in substance use and mental health symptoms; identifying goals, expectations, and support resources; assisting with understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues, the interaction of both, and the recovery process; suggesting positive behaviour modifications; examining motivations for change; and, teaching relapse prevention strategies.

Qualifications: Education, Training and Experience

• Master’s Degree in an applicable social or health sciences program such as Counselling Psychology or Social Work.
• Two (2) years' recent related experience working with clients and families with, or affected by, mental illness and substance use disorders, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Knowledge of Indigenous health approaches, protocol and cultural issues.
• Eligible for registration with relevant/applicable professional association.
• Valid B.C.
• Driver’s License and access to a personal vehicle for work-related purposes.

• Skills and Abilities Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approach; concurrent disorders; addictions and addictions counselling.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of relevant Acts such as Mental Health Act, Freedom of Information Act, pertinent regulations, policies and procedures, and other statutory duties.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultural practices and beliefs, including awareness of traditional healing practices such as drumming, singing and smudge ceremonies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis and professional practice guidelines for the treatment of various disorders.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and theories of clinical counselling/social work as applied to Indigenous populations.
• Knowledge of how Indigenous culture impacts the development of individuals and communities.
• Familiarity with residential school issues and the effects on First Nations people.
• Demonstrated ability in utilizing mental health and addictions standardized tools for client assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop consultative relationships with health professionals, counsellors, traditional healers and Elders.
• In-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with other community partners to inform the referral process, with particular application to Indigenous communities.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing including with Indigenous partners and First Nations communities.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals, groups, and interdisciplinary professionals through understanding the frameworks of other disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to assess, plan, organize, implement, evaluate and problem-solve, and organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
• Ability to effectively develop, coordinate and deliver in-services, education, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and consultation to clients, families and healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrated therapeutic skills in the areas of case management, individual and group therapy with adults with various mental disorders including concurrent disorders.
• Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services to Indigenous populations.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers, including related word processing, database management software applications, and use of technology to facilitate virtual health services.

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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Important

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