Substance Abuse Counsellor (Group Facilitator)

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

This job posting is open only to current Vancouver Harbourlight employees that are part of the Union BCGEU

This is a Backfill position without guaranteed hours.

Backfill employees are employees who provide relief for predictable and unpredictable work absences (e.g. leave or vacation) in certain positions requiring advance training and/or specialized knowledge.

Position Purpose Summary

The Salvation Army Harbour Light’s Community Residential Facility (CRF) houses individuals supervised on conditional release by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). The Correctional Substance Abuse Counsellor assists with the onsite supervision of clients residing in the CRF, counsels them, and assists them with immediate needs pertaining to their residency. The Correctional Substance Abuse Counsellor also directly contribute to CRF clients’ reintegration by identifying goals and needs of their release, devising an exit plan, helping them meet these goals (e.g., assisting with applications or referring them to relevant staff or external agencies), and tracking and reporting their progress. The Correctional Substance Abuse Counsellor provides one-on-one substance use counselling and/or facilitates group counselling and programming to support clients’ recovery.

Accountabilities

Substance Use Counselling

• Assess all new clients to determine substance abuse needs

• Create individualized substance abuse plans to assist clients in meeting goals

• Complete scheduled one-on-one substance abuse counselling with clients

• Complete substance abuse counselling as an intervention as needed

• Facilitates group counselling sessions

• Holds clients accountable to program requirements as well as principles of recovery.

• Maintain client interaction and session notes in provided, secure database; notes include but are not limited to behavioural concerns, weekend/late passes, medication changes

• Ensure that clients have access to spiritual input and counselling if desired and as a part of the rehabilitation process.

• Participate in clinical supervision meetings, as an individual and member of the team

• Provide clients with referrals to community agencies/partners that assist with substance abuse and recovery needs

• Work with Harbour Light’s Treatment Program as liaison by attending meetings and collaboratively coming up with strategies to assist clients with substance abuse needs

• Record statistics related to substance abuse services and referrals given to clients

Casework

• Monitors the environment and residents to ensure safety and security of clients, staff, volunteers and visitors

• Completes regular live, breathing, body, resident status checks as required

• Performs intake and discharge procedures for residents as assigned

• Develops and implements case management of assigned residents (for example, regularly counsels residents in establishing goals, monitors progress, and prepares discharge plan)

• Monitors clients’ curfew, visuals, conditions, behaviours

• Observe and report client behavior to appropriate staff and authorities

• Maintains and updates all appropriate documentation related to residents and initiates any new documentation; completes all reports required by the Ministry and The Salvation Army

• Engages in the development of inter-personal relationships that promotes dignity and respect

• Models and supervises appropriate, pro-social behaviour and daily life skills of residents

• Intervene in crisis situations, provide supportive counselling, and advocates as required

• Performs regular spot checks of residents on passes in community; escorts residents in the community when necessary and monitors behaviour

• Packing, inventorying, transporting, shipping and managing of client personal effects

• Liaises with Police, Ministry, CSC, court personnel, community agencies, family, and other staff members

• Assists in training and orienting of new staff or practicum student

• Provides guidance and support to volunteers, students, and newly hired staff

• Attends Federal and Provincial Institutions to visit potential clients and share information about CRF expectations, in-house and external resources, and surrounding environment

• Prepares reports regarding the institutional visits along with monthly intervention plans

• Scheduling and performing of urinalysis testing on clients as requested

• Ensures clients act in accordance with house rules by reminding clients of the rules when they are broken, helping them develop strategies for compliance, behavioural intervention, or recommending service restrictions for current or prospective clients

• Provide clients access to their medication and document accordingly

• Preparing, handling, and documenting of client allowance

• Perform other duties on rotation such as institutional mail correspondence, room inspections, attending treatment meetings, medication administration binder responsibility, scheduling meetings, room searches

• Assist co-workers with their assigned duties as required

• Assist support department as required, including covering of front desk/support attendant duties

• Provides Statements to Crown counsel, police, parole office as required

• Work in compliance with The Salvation Army’s operating policies, and the CSC contract’s Statement of Work

• Assists with Case review and screenings of client profiles

• Provide ongoing risk assessments

This role may perform other duties and other accountabilities as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Candidates must be comfortable with working in Vancouver’s downtown eastside and in a multi-program facility. Our programs include community meals, 24-hour and overnight shelters, residential addiction treatment, a correctional residential facility for men on parole, low-income housing, and other services.

• This position works in a 24/7 social services facility, including office, program, and residential areas.

• The performance of the job requires:

  • frequent amounts of sitting, computer use (including repetitive data entry)

  • frequent client interaction

  • climbing stairs

  • some lifting of up to 30 lbs. (e.g. client’s box of personal effects)

  • participation in both in-person and virtual meetings, sometimes in closed meeting rooms

• This position may occasionally participate in recreational activities on-site or off-site with program clients and other staff.

• This position works in noisy and crowded environment with upset, abusive or angry people from time to time.

• This position may require overdose response and include the administering of Naloxone.

• This position may be exposed to environmental hazards, including:

  • Verbally or physically aggressive people

  • Exposure to bodily fluids or sharps

  • Pests

• This position may encounter critical incidents, e.g. overdoses, first aid emergencies, etc.

• This position requires 0-10% travel within the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, as this position may occasionally support VHL at community fairs/events, as well as attend Federal Institutions to conduct interviews on offenders.

The above responsibilities must be performed in keeping with The Salvation Army’s Mission, Vision and Values, in a professional manner, upholding our code of conduct.

Education and Experience Qualifications

• Willingness to develop an understanding and support for the mission and purpose of The Salvation Army in Canada and its implications as related to position responsibilities.

• Work in compliance with OH&S Act and Regulations and abide by The Salvation Army’s health and safety policies and procedures.

• Ability to provide an original copy of a Background Check that is satisfactory to The Salvation Army, in its sole discretion, is required. Criminal Record Review Program clearance is required for all positions at Vancouver Harbour Light. Ability to obtain federal Enhanced Security Clearance is required for this position.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• The successful job applicant will have completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology/Social Work or related fields or have comparable experience working in a related field.

• Criminal Record Review Program clearance

• Qualify for, and be willing to obtain, Correction Services Canada enhanced security clearance.

• Naloxone training, First Aid with CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training (or willingness to be trained)

Experience and Skilled Knowledge Requirements

• 1 – 3 years of prior related experience, including, experience in liaison with government and community agencies, supervisory and preferred experience in corrections with an understanding of the Justice system.

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility.

• Must demonstrate a positive attitude towards the homeless and individuals with substance abuse and concurrent problems, including mental health concerns.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, in verbal and written English

• Must have an understanding of, and experience working with, the Criminal Justice System and in a correctional setting

• The skills to understand the use of authority in supervision and to intervene effectively in crisis situations;

• Ability to work with individuals with a diverse criminal background

• The ability to understand the dynamics of offender behaviour and assess their needs and risks

• The skills to counsel offenders, form effective relationships and gain trust

• Has a working knowledge of substance addictions, mental health, homelessness and poverty issues and practical knowledge of life skills

• The ability to assist offenders in identifying and solving the practical problems involved in their successful reintegration into the community

• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a non-judgmental attitude, as well as possess and exercise good interpersonal relationship skills by displaying tact, courtesy and patience with residents, staff, visitors and volunteers

• The ability to assist offenders in identifying and obtaining the community services required for their successful reintegration;

• The ability to demonstrate cultural competence and respect for diversity.

• Specialized CSC training (i.e. “Risk Management:”, “Sex Offender Management”, etc. a definite asset.

• Be computer literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Office.

• Knowledge of 12-step recovery principles is required; lived experience with 12-step recovery program is a significant asset to this position

Hours: This is a Backfill position without guaranteed hours. If scheduled for shifts, hours of work will be 8am-4pm Mon-Fri.

Wage Rate

Rate of pay is in accordance with the collective agreement and educational qualifications.

Counsellor 1, Probationary Rate: $30.35 p/hr

Counsellor 1 has some Basic Counselling training but does not have their ICADC Certificate.

Counsellor 2, Probationary Rate: $35.32 p/hr

Counsellor 2 has ICADC Certification

Counsellor 3, Probationary Rate: $37.96 p/hr

Counsellor 3 has a Master's degree.

Compensation

The target hiring range for this position is $30.35 to $34.53 with a maximum of $38.71.

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email View email address on ca.snapjobsearch.com if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.