Intake Counsellor/caseworker - Women's Treatment

The Intake Counsellor / Caseworker - Women's Treatment is responsible for the intake, initial counselling, and casework processes for clients in Harbour Light's Women's Treatment program. They interview and screen potential clients, determine client suitability, and support clients through the intake process. They perform initial assessments and provide individual and/or group counselling to clients during the pretreatment phase of the Treatment program. They support casework, relapse prevention, and discharge planning for all clients, including referrals to other services. They provide counselling support and facilitate recovery activities for all clients. They contribute to regular and special program activities, development, and evaluation, as a collaborative member of the Treatment team.

Intake & Counselling

• Engage with clients in a trauma informed, ethical and collaborative way
• Performs all aspects of the intake process, following standard procedures
• Screens potential clients according to program requirements, makes intake decisions, and reviews
• complex applications with the Assistant Manager - Women's Treatment.
• Coordinates intake with the counselling team; attends case management meetings to report on new intakes.
• Keeps detailed records of intake processes, and decisions, and prepares case histories for all incoming clients/residents.
• Prepares a relapse prevention and exit plan in collaboration with the client
• Conducts comprehensive program orientation for all clients/residents; room assignments, linen distribution, outline client handbook and assessment kit, and taking of client photo.
• Acts as a support and point of contact for all treatment clients
• May assist as a relief counsellor (non-clinical)
• Intervenes in crisis situations, provides emotional support and advocacy as required
• Monitors the waitlist and ensures that the TX beds are full.
• Liaises with external agencies regarding treatment referrals.

Casework

• Identifies, liaises, and networks with referral sources, community resources, and other external agencies as needed (e.g. social assistance, funders, police, parole, urgent situations)
• Assists clients to access external services such as communicating with community and government agencies on behalf of the client(s), assisting or advocating where necessary to help clients access the services or resources they require, e.g. identification, housing referrals, employment resources
• Works with Treatment team to implement case management of assigned clients/residents;
• Assists clients/residents in establishing goals, monitoring progress, and prepares discharge plan
• Develops, implements, and documents case plans as it pertains to each individuals' goals and objectives; document client progress and interactions, incidents and other required information.
• Encourage ongoing engagement with the case plan.
• Monitors and ensures the safety of clients and the facility by performing duties such as screening clients, admission/discharge of clients.
• Participates as a team member with other staff to ensure a safe and caring environment by performing duties such as responding to crisis/emergency issues and supporting others through methods such as sharing knowledge and information.
• Supports clients in identifying and reducing barriers to recovery, and becoming program-ready by creating plans to manage healthcare, legal, financial, and family caregiving responsibilities
• Ensure program participants' movements are restricted to their department and approved areas only.

Documentation & Reporting

• Documentation is an essential component of Harbour Light's Treatment Program.
• Maintains all documentation to industry best practices and TSA standards
• Must complete intake documentation, ongoing case notes, and maintain each client's personal
• Maintain client interaction and session notes in provided, secure database; notes include but are not limited to behavioural concerns, weekend/late passes, medication changes
• Prepares of comprehensive reports for billing that are submitted to finance.
• Coordinates client room assignments and room changes; maintains and sends client room lists to
• Harbour Light departments.
• Creates discharge reports.
• Create CRF progress reports as per policy.
• Maintains statistical information as required.
• Develops surveys, stats, reports for the funding agency; assists with creating and maintaining other internal and external reporting requirements as required.

Administrative & Inter-departmental Co-operation

• Maintains respectful & ethical relationships with clients and colleagues, in accordance with TSA policies and professional standards
• Participate in clinical supervision meetings, as an individual and member of the team
• May assist in providing orientation to new employees or students by performing duties such as familiarizing individuals with the policies and procedures or equipment of the facility and/or work area and demonstrating work procedures.
• Supervise practicum students.
• Participate in the yearly client focused events: Client Christmas Party (usually early December) and summer baseball tournament(s).
• In rotation with other staff, dispense medications to clients as per policy.
• Maintains medication records and liaisons with the pharmacy as needed.
• Ensure that confidentiality of all information regarding clients is maintained. Have knowledge of the "Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act."
• Ensure that assistance is given to the client in accessing any outside resources (MHR, EI, clergy, support groups, Community Advocate etc.).
• Attends in-service and staff development programs as approved by Executive Director/Director,
• Operations & Residential Services.
• Attendance is compulsory at all General Staff Meetings, Case Review, and devotional/reflections services during normal working hours etc. as scheduled.
• Maintains a current knowledge of and complies with all facility policies and procedures. This would include, but is not exclusive to, The Salvation Army Standards & Review procedures.
• Works closely with and co-operates in a courteous, respectful manner with other staff, volunteers, visitors & clients.
• Ensure that information, even of a confidential nature, is passed on to the Treatment Program
• Manager, Director of Residential Programs, or Executive Director if it might endanger or seriously affect another person or the safety of the building.
• Ensure that all legitimate requests to assist by colleagues is considered and acted upon.
• Ensure that requests to Counsellors by individuals or outside agencies for information or presentation on Harbour Light are communicated to the Treatment Program Manager, Director of Residential Programs, or Executive Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• The Counsellor will hold a minimum of two (2) years of community college in a counselling or social work field.
• The ideal candidate will be a member in good standing with a Canadian counselling certification body, holding a designation such as ICADC, RCC, RPC, RSW, MSW, or equivalent.
• Criminal Record Review Program clearance to work with vulnerable adults
• Ability to receive enhanced federal reliability status to work with federal correctional clients
• Current Certification or willingness to obtain certification in:

o First Aid/CPR

o Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (or equivalent)

o Mental Health First Aid

o Naloxone Training/Overdose response

• Documentation confirming compliance with the Province's immunization and tuberculosis control program, per Residential Care Regulations

Experience/Knowledge:

• At least one (1) year frontline casework or counselling experience in recovery-focused substance use or related setting, including facilitation and group therapy
• At least one (1) year experience in a direct service (frontline) role serving women/female-identifying clients
• Knowledge of evidence-based, trauma-informed practices in addiction treatment, the principles of recovery, and motivational interviewing
• Demonstrated ability to provide care that acknowledges diverse social, psychological, and cultural needs
• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care; completion of Indigenous Cultural Safety Training is an asset
• Experience in a community care licensed facility is an asset
• Lived experience is an asset

Required Skills/Capabilities:

• Clear understanding of the needs, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for women and marginalized genders in the DTES, including substance use, mental health, homelessness, and gender-based violence
• Demonstrated ability to provide a healthy, safe, non-judgmental space for clients accessing social services and/or residential care, particularly in programs serving women/female-identifying clients
• Demonstrated comfort and skill, working with diverse populations
• Strong interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution skills
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in writing and verbally in English
• Strong sense of integrity and confidentiality with professional ethics and a balanced sense of fairness and flexibility
• Strategic thinking and planning, creative and collaborative problem-solving
• Clear, consistent, and values-oriented decision-making
• Strong skills in Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and client database systems
• Experience with CAMS (Case Administration Management System) or other client database is an Asset

HOURS: Casual

This is a Casual position without guaranteed hours. If scheduled for shifts, hours of work will be 7am-3pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Successful candidates, prior to hiring, may be required to provide:

• Background check consent.
• A clear vulnerable sector screening.
• A clean drivers abstract.
• Completion of our online Armatus Abuse Training and required Health and Safety training.

The Salvation Army will accommodate candidates as required under applicable human rights legislation. If you require a disability-related accommodation during this process, please inform us of your requirements.

We thank all applicants, however, only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted.

Internal Applicants, please advise your managing supervisor of your intentions prior to submitting your application.