Clinical Counsellor, Primary Care - Burnaby

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The Clinical Counsellor provides consultation, assessment, short term case management and brief intervention services on complex cases to individuals and families who present with and are affected by serious and persistent mental disorders and/or substance use; assesses referred clients and/or accepts the client for short term case management or makes referrals to other community services where appropriate. As part of the interdisciplinary shared care team, collaborates in the development of shared care plans and provides comprehensive case consultation and follow-up support on treatment decisions.

Provides client and family-centered care through a trauma-informed approach and evidence-informed practices; establishes a dignifying, purposeful and trusting relationship with clients, promoting self-determination and independence; encourages knowledge exchange in day-to day activities, and empowers clients and natural supports to engage and connect within their communities; ensures clients and their family members are supported in navigating the health care system.

1. Provides short term brief intervention and support to clients affected by mental illness and/or substance use, including people in crisis, utilizing crisis intervention and short-term cognitive behavioural therapy based on treatment goals.
2. Assesses client needs and available services and contributes to the shared care plan with the clients input. Facilitates clients' utilization of appropriate community services and rehabilitative programs through methods such as researching available services, liaising with the service and program providers and providing advice and consultation to colleagues in order to ensure clients receive appropriate and timely service delivery and continuity of care.
3. Screens referrals from the interdisciplinary team by gathering background information, determining service priorities and providing rapid response to urgent referrals, providing outreach, crisis intervention, and short-term treatment stabilization, and referral.
4. Carries out treatment plans and interventions, provision of support and crisis intervention, including facilitation of hospitalization where necessary. Follows-up, monitors, and evaluates treatment outcomes.
5. Communicates and consults with psychiatrists and interdisciplinary shared care team regarding client care and progress.
6. Provides referral to appropriate agencies and collaborative information sharing of psychiatric situations including substance use/dependence .
7. Delivers psychoeducation sessions to clients and their families by using various group processes and theory.
8. Identifies gaps and problems with service and recommends solutions to assist in the development and maintenance of a coordinated mental health care system within the community.
9. Provides education and information sessions regarding mental health issues to the interdisciplinary shared care team, and to government/non-government agencies, in conjunction with other community groups and agencies as needed.
10. Assists in the evaluation of the program and in monitoring quality improvement activities, standards of practice, policies and procedures.
11. Maintains written reports and statistics and prepares written reports and clinical documentation according to established policies and procedures.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Master's in Counselling Psychology, Social Work or other related discipline from an accredited educational institution. Eligible for registration with relevant professional association.

Two (2) years of recent related experience in community and/or hospital settings providing programs for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive clinical counselling and therapy skills including crisis counselling.
• Demonstrated clinical skills in working with the seriously mentally ill. 
• Thorough knowledge of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a therapeutic modality.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of mental health psychiatric assessment skills, crisis intervention techniques, de-escalation techniques, brief/short-term therapy skills and interventions, abnormal psychology, general counselling theory/principles, DSM V multi-axial diagnosis, community response procedures, community resource utilization and knowledge of psycho-pharmacology used in psychiatric treatment.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of substance use, relapse prevention and harm reduction.
• Ability to undertake client assessment tools.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with others effectively, including establishing and maintaining rapport with psychotic, crisis-prone, non-compliant people, and working collaboratively and co-operatively with other care providers to facilitate and enhance interdisciplinary, inter-departmental, and interagency communication and problem solving.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to network with other services and agencies.
• Ability to work on interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Ability to work independently under the direction of physicians, nurse practitioner and/or psychiatrist.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.