Mental Health and Substance Use Clinician

Job Description:

Job Summary

Mental Health & Substance Use Clinician provides assessment, therapy, case management, consultation and treatment to a variety of clients (ie., adults, children, and families) with mental health and substance use concerns and illnesses. The Mental Health and Substance Use Clinician provides assessment, ongoing stabilizing treatment, coordination of resources and consultations to clients, their families, and partners in care. The Clinician operates with a high degree of autonomy and independence and will work as a collaborative member of the Abegweit First Nation Mental Wellness Team.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide a wide range of assessment, treatment and consultation services with clients;
• Assist in developing and monitoring short and long-term treatment plans;
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to identify high-risk situations and support the safety and well-being of individuals and their families or support networks, considering factors such as employment, housing, finances, and available supports;
• Determine the needs and eligibility for services/resources and explore barriers, identify coping strategies;
• Act as an advocate on behalf of the individual and their families/support network. They shall provide support and referrals as appropriate;
• Utilize and apply extensive knowledge of case management principles, psychosocial rehabilitation, cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, supportive family and group therapy, and discern which approaches are best suited to the situation and clinical impression;
• Use substantive knowledge of numerous areas including mental illness, cognitive functioning, medical co-morbidity, and substance use and gambling, analyze and interpret the information to formulate clinical impressions and develop treatment plans;
• Utilize and apply extensive knowledge of case management principles, psychosocial rehabilitation, cognitive, behavioral, dialectical behavioral therapy, supportive, family and group therapy, discern which approaches are best suited to the situation and clinical impression;
• Respond to emergency calls and walk-in clients; intake screening of new referrals for service; determine intervention required while taking into consideration the degree of risk to client and/or others, provide specific evidence-based treatment modalities;
• Coordinate and participate in case conferences;
• Provide support to other team members; contribute to the inter-disciplinary effort in improving quality care, provide services support and counseling to individuals and their families as they deal with their diagnosis and co-morbidities;
• Follow up with individuals as required to ensure they are meeting their goals; provide education and support to understand their condition, triggers and how to manage impulse control, and behaviors;
• Maintain and protect confidential records and case reporting consistent with policy, procedures, and ethical standards;
• Liaise with other program and community partners. This could include assessing the clinical needs of these communities and augment traditional clinical service with evidence informed clinical outreach;
• Other duties as required

Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, or Master’s degree in Clinical Counselling

• Must be eligible for registration with the Registration Board; where currently registered, must be a member in good standing.

• Considerable clinical mental health and substance use experience.

• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5 and other relevant Federal and Provincial statutes and acts.

• Experience and training in individual, family and group therapy.

• Good communication skills both orally and in writing.

• Must be able to provide own transportation with mileage reimbursement as per collective agreement.

• The successful applicant must have a good previous work and attendance record.

Other Qualifications:

• Demonstrated maturity and a capacity to work effectively with resistant client groups.

• Experience working with First Nations communities

• Experience working with clients with complex needs, chronic illness, mental illness, substance use/addiction, and concurrent disorders.

• Experience working with vulnerable and at-risk populations.

• Experience collaborating with other agencies; psychiatry; other medical providers; law enforcement; other government agencies.

• Relevant training such as: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) training, Suicide Risk Assessment training, and Violence Risk Assessment training.

• The successful candidate must provide a satisfactory criminal record check and vulnerable sector check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

• Office-based role with travel required within the community and to external service providers.
• High level of interaction with community members experiencing complex challenges.
• Management of confidential and sensitive information.
• Collaborative, interdisciplinary work environment.
• Emotionally demanding work requiring strong boundaries, resilience, and commitment to self-care.

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