Come work as a Concurrent Disorders Counsellor with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Concurrent Disorders Counsellor to join the South Mental Health and Substance Use team in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, hiring is restricted to self-identified women applicants.

As a Concurrent Disorders Counsellor with VCH, you will:

• Provide screening and assessment services to clients.
• Identify the existence of concurrent disorders including mental health and/or substance abuse problems; conduct substance abuse, psychiatric, bio-psycho-social assessments, mental status examination and case formulations.
• Develop and implement outcome orientated treatment plans that cover both mental health and substance use disorders.
• Provide treatment services to clients including individual, group, couples and family therapy and education according to theoretical models.
• Collaborate with others to facilitate the management of cases; coordinate care using a supportive case management approach within the principles of harm reduction.
• Participate in case conferences/meetings with members of the multidisciplinary team for identification and management of client mental health issues.
• Participate in developing and providing education services and contributes to program development in order to meet the needs of the population with concurrent disorders.
• Collaborate, consult and provide clinical support and education to colleagues for continuity of care, treatment concerns, specialized services and community resource coordination.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in an Allied Health Discipline from a recognized program.
• Three (3) years’ recent related experience providing professional services to individuals who have substance abuse and mental health illness including experience working in a women’s only treatment program or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• As this is a women’s only facility for addictions and substance use treatment, self-identified women applicants preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of psychotherapeutic and counselling skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in day treatment service delivery.
• Comprehensive experience in running group treatment programming both process and psych-educational in content.
• Comprehensive knowledge of working with women in addiction’s treatment and a thorough understanding of the unique challenges and bio-psych-social issues that can affect this population.
• Broad knowledge of healthcare and community services available to women.
• Broad knowledge of bio-psycho-social issues that may occur in response to changing mental health and alcohol and/or other drug needs.
• Broad knowledge of mental health and substance abuse disorders and their interaction.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology.
• Broad knowledge of legislation, government policies and procedures that relate to the client.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and facilitate the development of an integrated system of addiction and mental health services, including working with specialty substance abuse and mental health agencies, and other related professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to gather relevant information to make a multi-dimensional substance misuse and mental health assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to complete a psychiatric assessment, case formulation and, in consultation with the client, to create a treatment plan that addresses both substance misuse and any level of mental disorder.
• Demonstrated ability to apply a variety of theoretical models to practice in assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and respond appropriately to emergent situations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, colleagues, referral sources, medical personnel, and community agency personnel.

As this is a women’s only facility for addictions and substance use treatment, self-identified women applicants preferred.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.