Primary Care Network, MH&SU Clinician/Clinical Counsellor-Chilliwack

We currently have a  Full Time opportunity to work as a Primary Care Network Clinician in our Primary Health Care team located in Chilliwack, B.C.

Build on your education and experience as you:

Ensure local linkage between Primary Care Networks (PCN), Mental Health & Substance Use Services (MH&SUS) and Specialized Community Services Program (SCSP) to support mild to moderate mental health and/or substance use clients in a PCN.

Facilitate access to MH&SUS SCSP and support the transition of stable moderate to severe MH&SU SCSP clients to care of General Practitioners (GP) within PCN.

Provide initial screening, assess and determine referral needs, liaise with community resources, formulate and implement short-term engagement and treatment plans, provide short-term counselling, brief interventions and comprehensive case consultation, and follow-up support in collaboration with the local PCN and MH&SUS teams.

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The Primary Care Network, MH&SU Clinician/Clinical Counsellor will support clients with mild to moderate mental health and/or substance use conditions through strong local linkages between Primary Care Networks (PCN), Family Physicians/Nurse Practitioners and Mental Health Substance Use Services (MH&SUS) Specialized Community Services Programs (SCSP). Within the PCN, the Primary Care Network, MH&SU Clinician/Clinical Counsellor will facilitate access to MH&SUS SCSP and will also support the transition of stable moderate to severe clients from MH&SU SCSP to the care of primary care providers (PCP) within PCN.

This position will determine client's needs using standardized assessment tools; liaises with community resources, formulates and implements short-term engagement and treatment plans, provides short-term counselling, brief interventions and comprehensive case consultation and follow-up support in collaboration with the local PCN and MH&SUS teams. Provides advice, direction and advocacy for issues related to housing, food security and income. Develops, coordinates and delivers in-house services, presentations and training to staff. Supports the inclusion of family members/natural supports in treatment planning. Participates in the development and evaluation of PCN/MH&SUS Liaison program. Provides share care visits at PCP offices as required.

Education and Experience

Master’s degree in Social Work, Clinical Counselling or other relevant health related discipline. Eligible for registration with appropriate professional association.

Two (2) years’ recent, related experience in a community or hospital psychiatry setting working with clients and families with, or affected by, mental illness and substance use disorders, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Valid B.C. Driver’s license and access to own vehicle with appropriate business coverage.

Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive applied knowledge of counselling techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other psychotherapeutic techniques.
• Demonstrated client assessment and case consultation skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health disorders and concurrent disorders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field of alcohol and drug misuse.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake client assessments utilizing mental health and substance use standardized tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of emergency triage procedures, mental health status assessment, counselling principles and interview techniques.
• Working knowledge of psychopharmacology, crisis theory, and de-escalation techniques.
• Working knowledge of DSM V Multiaxial Diagnosis or International Classification of Diseases 10.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, including empathic and respectful communication appropriate to the situation.
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to get along well with clients, families, and members of the interdisciplinary team, and including the ability to effectively network with other services and agencies.
• Ability to set priorities, organize work to effectively manage a demanding workload, and exercise sound judgment, both clinically and non-clinically.
• Ability to work effectively and to flexibly manage changing workload needs under pressure, and during times of change.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while seeking the appropriate level of consultation and approval from the Coordinator.
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality in accordance with applicable regional policies.
• Ability to learn new methodologies, ideas, and concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and facilitate learning of staff and/or clients/families.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work direction in a coaching/mentoring role.
• Ability to provide effective and efficient service, while meeting clinical and administrative government and health region policies, standards, and protocol requirements.
• Knowledge of community resources and methods of accessing them.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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