Substance Use Clinician, Masters - Acquired Brain Injury Services

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, and is home to six Métis Chartered Communities.

Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care. Learn more.

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Fraser Health is proudly recognized as a BC Top Employer. Joining our team offers you opportunities to work in a rapidly growing organization with health professionals who are excellent in their respective fields, career growth and advancement, a competitive compensation package (including four weeks of vacation to start, comprehensive health benefits, and pension plan), and the rewarding opportunity to make a difference every single day in health care.

Effective October 26, 2021 all staff for all positions across health care in British Columbia are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and there are no exceptions.

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In accordance with Fraser Health's Vision, Mission and Values, the Substance Use Clinician provides culturally appropriate, person-centered care using an evidence-informed approach to individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI) who are using substances. Innovation and problem solving will be key in adapting harm reduction models and insight based treatment approaches to substance use recovery for clients with acquired brain injuries. Working from a framework of trauma-informed practice, cultural safety and humility, the Substance Use Clinician provides comprehensive assessment, analysis, treatment recommendations and care planning for adults with complex presentations including ABI, Mental Health concerns and substance use. The clinician works closely with the multidisciplinary team providing consultation and case management to promote safety with substance use while maximizing client's capabilities, community participation and recovery. Services are provided in the community in client's homes, in-reach within contracted services, and alongside other FH program partners.

1. Provides comprehensive assessment and intervention planning for clients in complex situations by gathering relevant history and current presentation in collaboration with client's support network and health care team in order to determine client's strengths, risks, needs and goals.
2. Provides individual and group therapy, using a variety of evidence informed substance use treatment approaches for clients with acquired brain injury.
3. Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to determine best approach to care, and assesses the need for emergent crisis intervention.
4. Develops and monitors individual client and funded contract support services for clients; evaluates effectiveness and quality of services provided to clients by conducting on-site inspections and facilitating follow-up action, as per established policies and procedures.
5. Collaborates with service and program providers to facilitate client access of appropriate community services and programs that match the client’s needs, motivation and goals. This could include substance use treatment options, recovery resources, links to primary care providers, and cultural connections.
6. Facilitates family and lived experience involvement activities such as client and family information sessions in order to promote knowledge exchange on brain injury, mental health and substance use.
7. Provides education to clients and families in accordance with theoretical models to assist with understanding mental health and substance abuse issues, the interaction of both alongside brain injury, and the recovery process; evaluating readiness for change; and, teaching relapse prevention strategies.
8. Maintains client records by recording information such as client assessments, charting client information via PARIS and/or other clinical information systems, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements, documenting for future reference and ensuring that access to and disclosure of information and records are in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
9. Promotes quality improvement through recommendations on policies, processes and procedures that streamline and provide for more efficient and effective client/family centred practices; develops and evaluates clinical protocols, identifies service needs and provides input and recommendations to the Clinical Coordinator and Manager.
10. Participates actively and collaboratively in team planning and team meetings, as well as local committees, advisory boards, and/or corporate initiatives as delegated by the Manager/Coordinator through presenting relevant material, participating in discussions, and receiving information as a representative of the team acting as an advocate for the goals and objectives of the program, and to promote optimal support for clients, families and caregivers.
11. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.
12. Maintains current and relevant acquired brain injury practice through methods such as reviewing literature and research, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field, evaluating clinical practice and participating in professional development activities, ongoing clinical education, in-services, and/or case conferences in order to improve care through new practices.
13. Participates in clinical research and program evaluation activities relevant to the needs of clients, families, hospitals, and the community, as requested.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience

Master's Degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychology or other relevant social or health sciences discipline. Two (2) years' recent, related experience working with clients and families with, or affected by, brain injury, substance use, and/or mental illness or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Eligible for registration with relevant professional association.

Valid Class V British Columbia driver's license and access to a personal vehicle for business related purposes.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of mental health psychiatric assessment skills, crisis intervention techniques, de-escalation techniques, brief/short-term therapy skills and interventions, psycho-pharmacology used in psychiatric treatment, abnormal psychology, general counseling theory/principles, current DSM multi-axial diagnosis or International Classification of Diseases (ICD), community response procedures, and community resource utilization.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with others effectively, including establishing and maintaining rapport with psychotic, crisis-prone, non-compliant people, and working collaboratively and co-operatively with other care providers to facilitate and enhance interdisciplinary, inter-departmental, and interagency communication and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, problems solve, organize and prioritize workload, including setting clear clinical priorities in relation to identified risk factors in a continuously changing environment.
• Working knowledge of violence de-escalation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a self-directed manner.
• Ability to facilitate group therapy and educational sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment. Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client/family information system, word processing and e-mail.
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP).
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.