Collaborative Care Counsellor, Provincial Psychosocial Oncology, BC Cancer

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Reporting to the Clinical Coordinator, Patient and Family Counselling with a functional reporting relationship to the Provincial Practice Leader, Patient & Family Counselling and Medical Director, Psychiatry, the Collaborative Care Counsellor provides psychosocial support to cancer patients with mental health comorbidities across the province within a collaborative care model with BC Cancer psychiatrists.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Screens referrals and completes intake, conducts comprehensive assessments by methods such as interviewing the cancer patient and family and/or caregivers, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the patient and family, and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies.
2. Provides individual, family, and group counselling services to cancer patients with mental health comorbidities by focusing on their social, emotional, cultural, and practical needs, including adjustment to diagnosis, treatment decisions, recurrence, loss of functioning, and dealing with emotional, patient and family crises in the context of evidence-based care. Provides support, education, and crisis intervention to patients by understanding the nature and treatment of the cancer and related issues as well as mental health issues.
3. Working within the Collaborative Care model with BC Cancer Psychiatrists, collaborates with other members of the interprofessional team on case consultations and management and discharge planning to facilitate care through the continuum and ensure proper and effective treatment of cancer patients with mental health comorbidities. This includes attending team meetings, rounds, family conferences, and psycho-social forums and providing input.
4. Prepares and maintains patient records by methods such as documenting client assessments, interventions, evaluations, modifications, and patient goals; charting client information; and preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and document rationale to support findings and intervention plan.

5. Establishes and maintains effective collaborative and constructive liaison relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including patients and families, community providers, hospitals and other agencies, to coordinate services across the continuum of health care.
6. Advocates on behalf of the patient and their family or caregiver for resources within the hospital and the community by assessing the financial and other psycho-social needs and works in coordination with community resources to meet these needs.
7. Participates in program planning and development and quality improvement as part of an interprofessional team within BC Cancer and the continuum of health care by attending regular meetings, contributing to discussions, and providing input. Identifies, promotes, and participates in program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for patients and their families.
8. Provides orientation and collegial information to new staff and peers by explaining the scope of practice within the program and demonstrating work methods and processes. Provides instruction and/or supervision to students and provides feedback on student progress as required.
9. Participates in practice and program sponsored interdisciplinary research by methods such as conducting literature searches, administering surveys and collecting and collating research data for further analysis. Ensures that clinical practices and protocols are consistent with current research findings.
10. Maintains current knowledge and awareness of trends and activities in clinical practice by such methods as reviewing literature, consulting with clinical and community experts in the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices.
11. Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, accounting for variances, and preparing reports as required.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience
• Master’s degree in a social sciences discipline relevant to the job from a recognized program, such as Social Work, Counselling Psychology, or Clinical Psychology.
• Two (2) years of recent experience working in an interprofessional setting that includes experience with individuals, couples, families and group work; program and community development; adjustment and grief counselling in a health care or oncology setting; educating and training patients using a variety of teaching modalities; and facilitating or co-facilitating support groups; or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
• Eligible for registration with designated professional regulatory body.
Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated ability to provide individual, family and group counseling.
• Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of cancer patients with disabilities and other medical and/or mental health conditions.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to use brief evidence-based therapy models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based therapy (e.g., Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy or Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, CALM Therapy, Meaning Centered Psychotherapy Systems Theory, Solution-Focused Therapy, Supportive Therapy, Crisis Counselling, Group Therapy and Resource Counselling.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work with patients with mental health issues, such as depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety.
• Ability to work independently and co-operatively as part of the provincial psychosocial oncology team and the interprofessional cancer care team making positive contributions to the team process and patient care goals.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with peers, physicians, other health care professionals, patients and their families, and external agencies.
• Ability to deal with others tactfully and with sensitivity.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized patient care information system.
• Ability to teach and supervise students.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.