Addictions Counsellor
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Victoria, BC

What you’ll do

• Provide individualized therapeutic counselling services including crisis intervention and stabilization, according to a variety of theoretical models and best practices including comprehensive assessment, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational therapy, social skills training and relapse prevention.
• Facilitate psycho-educational, process group therapy, and family sessions with an assigned number of patients for the duration of their involvement in the Addictions Counselling program by methods such as reviewing learning needs; assisting with understanding of illness(es); teaching containment skills, relapse prevention and coping strategies; suggesting positive behavior modifications, encouraging socialization, social skill development, and behavioural modeling; providing education regarding health care for immune compromised and disadvantaged clients to maintain physical well-being; and supporting patients and their families to take responsibility for their health through education, collaboration, and goal setting.
• Participate in the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans by methods such as working with the patients to develop their goals for treatment and the criteria to measure progress towards these goals, collects the data from these criteria, meeting with the patients on a regular basis to review progress, and evaluating the treatment plan if required.
• Prepare for discharge planning and continuity of care through referrals to community resources, which will assist the client in their ongoing recovery and treatment. Meet with clients, families and referring agencies to advance discharge and continuity of care planning. Liaises with referring agencies (addiction clinics, residential treatment and recovery providers, professionals, and private practitioners) to facilitate treatment planning and continuity of care planning.
• Act as a client advocate during the care management meetings to evaluate and change the treatment plan, completes forms relevant to ongoing and after care planning and gathers information from addictions and mental health resources, and refers clients to other services as required to assist clients in reaching their treatment goals. 

What you bring

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related allied heath discipline
• Three (3) years’ of recent related clinical experience, including at least one (1) year’s experience in a substance use and mental health program providing therapeutic individual and group counselling. 

Skills and Knowledge:

• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and other related reports.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.)
• Comprehensive knowledge of substance dependence and concurrent disorders.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects), trauma informed care, and chronic disease such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Temporary, Full- Time until March 31^st 2024 (1.00 FTE)
Wage: $39.14 to $48.88 per hour
Location: 4216 Wilkinson Rd, Victoria, BC V8Z 5B2
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of Work: 0830-1630; Monday - Friday.
Requisition # 142160

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

What we do

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.

BCMHSUS is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA and BCMHSUS are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey—one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate. 

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca    

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of March 24th, 2023. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.