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

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

What is Forensics?

Forensic Psychiatric Regional Clinics and Programs are for people with a mental health and/or substance use disorder who have come into contact with the law. The courts may refer them to one of our regional clinics for assessment and treatment. We believe that people, when properly supported, have the ability to manage most aspects of their lives. We focus on people's strengths and resources instead of on symptoms and problems. They are a key member of their treatment team and an active participant in their own care. We help them get the care, support, and treatment they need.

Watch this video to learn about working with BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services!

Why the North?

Prince George is Northern B.C.’s urban centre and provides a family-friendly community with wonderful schools, active community sports, and lots of shopping, dining, and recreation amenities. There are hundreds of nearby lakes and rivers to explore, an abundance of fresh air and pristine forests, and the city within is home to friendly community of residents who are passionate about their outdoors pastimes.

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.
• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents – including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study – and how they intersect across the health care system.
• 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 of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, 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: $42.27 - $52.81 per hour

2% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Minimum and Medium security units and community settings; 4% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Maximum and Multi-level security units.
Location: 2nd Floor, 1584 - 7th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3P4
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0830-1630
Requisition: # 176698E

** Please indicate in your cover letter why you are interested in joining our team at Forensic Psychiatric Regional Clinics in Prince George!

What we do

BC Mental 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 equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently marginalized groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of December 19, 2024. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.