Substance Use Clinician, Indigenous Health

Detailed Overview

The Substance Use Clinician, Indigenous Health supports care coordination and system navigation across substance use services, local service areas, and regional and provincial services, with an emphasis on reducing barriers to re-enter the system of care and facilitating timely treatment and rapid re-engagement of clients where appropriate and feasible. Provides culturally appropriate client and family-centered care through a trauma-informed approach and evidence-informed practice to Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals and families with alcohol and drug addictions, and with or without mental disorders.

Working from a framework of cultural safety and humility, and as a clinician in a shared-team model, provides initial screening, intake, client assessment, treatment recommendations and plans, determines referral needs, follow-up support, provides therapy including group therapy, liaises regarding complex situations, provides group education, liaison with community resources for specialized services, counsels clients, and provides outreach as required. May be assigned as the “most responsible clinician” to specific clients dependent on their primary needs.

Responsibilities Performs initial screening of referrals of individuals with a focus on those who identify as Indigenous from other health care providers/agencies, family members, physicians and other sources to determine appropriate treatment based on client needs, urgency of request and best practices. Assesses client needs by gathering client information/history via phone interviews or other methods; seeking additional background information to perform initial assessment of client mental health status and risk to themselves or others and to determine priority of care, client eligibility, availability of resources, and service priorities;

collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to determine best approach to care, assessing the need for emergent crisis intervention, and to facilitate virtual health connections. Provides first level intervention and support until formal treatment or further assessment can be conducted, such as short term brief interventions, follow-up, monitoring, and evaluating treatment outcomes. Provides short-term treatment/support and case management for complex situations including people in crisis through provision of services such as delivery of individual and group therapy to clients and families;

developing and implementing recovery-oriented treatment options and plans through collaboration with clients and natural supports; providing comprehensive case consultation and follow-up support on treatment decisions in collaboration with other interdisciplinary team members. Facilitates client utilization of appropriate community services and rehabilitative programs through methods such as considering the client’s motivation and their stage in the treatment process, researching available services, liaising with service and program providers, providing advice and consultation to colleagues, and/or referring to other community resources as required.

Provides referrals to appropriate community treatment alternatives and services, including residential programs, family therapy, marital and separation counselling, alcohol and drug treatment, victim assistance, employee assistance programs, clubhouses, transition homes, vocational programs, and other agencies. Utilizes available community resources such as volunteers, community groups, alternate care services and other service agencies to develop supportive and rehabilitative programs for clients and their families.

Provides culturally appropriate education to clients with a focus on those who identify as Indigenous and their families, in accordance with theoretical models grounded in evidence-based practice, by exploring identified problems that may have resulted in substance use and mental health symptoms; identifying goals, expectations, and support resources; assisting with understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues, the interaction of both, and the recovery process;

suggesting positive behaviour modifications; examining…