Concurrent Disorder Counsellor, Forensic Psychiatric Prince George Regional Clinic - Prince George, BC

Concurrent Disorder Counsellor
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Prince George, BC

Effective December 6, 2024, as negotiated in the latest collective agreement, a classification system will be implemented for the HSPBA roles in PHSA, effectively transitioning to a profile-based system. As a result, it may have impact to this job posting’s job title, job description, and wage range.

What you’ll do

• Facilitate psycho-education and manualized substance use and mental health group treatment. Work with groups to review learning needs; aid in understanding of illness(es), teach containment skills, relapse prevention and coping strategies; suggest positive behavior modifications; encourage socialization, social skill development, and behavioural modeling; provides education regarding health care for immune compromised and disadvantaged clients to maintain physical well-being; and support patients and their families to take responsibility for their health through education, collaboration, and goal-setting.
• Provide evidence-based, trauma-informed individualized substance use and mental health counselling services including crisis intervention and stabilization, comprehensive assessments, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, social skills training and relapse prevention.
• Participate in the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans by methods such as working with clients to develop their goals for treatment and the criteria to measure progress towards these goals, collecting data from these criteria, and meeting with clients on a regular basis to review progress, and evaluating the treatment plan as required.
• Perform program enrollment according to established protocols by methods such as working with interprofessional team and Forensic Regional Clinic staff to identify appropriate clients for interventions, prepare discharge planning information and resources that assist clients in their ongoing recovery and treatment, and meeting with clients and referring/after-care agencies to gather information. Liaise with referring/after-care agencies (community clinics, professionals, private practitioners) to facilitate treatment planning and discharge care.
• Act as an advocate for clients during inter-professional team meetings to evaluate and change the treatment plan; completes forms relevant to ongoing and after care planning and gathers information from substance use and mental health resources, and refer clients to other services as required to assist clients in reaching their treatment goals.
• Monitor systems which ensure the safety of clients including substance use, communications by methods such as requesting urine samples, alert other staff regarding client concerns, maintain awareness of client’s physical and emotional conditions, maintain safety and security protocols during all programming and one-on-one sessions, and bring any safety issues to the attention of the Clinic Manager and/or Practice Supervisor.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in an allied health discipline (counselling and/or social work) from an approved and accredited post-secondary institution.
• Three (3) years’ of recent related clinical experience, including at least one (1) years’ experience in a concurrent disorder program providing therapeutic individual and group counselling.
• Eligibility for membership in applicable professional association.

Skills and Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of substance dependence and concurrent disorders.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects), trauma informed practice, and chronic disease such as HIV and Hepatitis C.
• Demonstrated skill in and experience with motivational interviewing/therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Broad knowledge of adult education principles, methods and tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and experience in group dynamics, individual counselling and family therapy.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, demonstrate and coach clients.
• 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.)

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 September 13, 2025)
Wage: $41.34 - $51.63 per hour
Location: 2nd Floor, 1584 - 7th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3P4
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of Work: 0830-1630 Monday-Friday
Requisition: #155301

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

BCMental 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.