Addiction Counsellor - HART Hub Mobile Outreach

At House of Friendship we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion Inclusion Justice Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great doesnt it It is!

We are hiring for an individual who is committed to strength-based person focused care to join our team as an Addiction Counsellor. The successful candidate will work in the HART (The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub program alongside the Community Healthcaring Primary Care Outreach Team in Waterloo Region. Professional registration in good standing is required (OCSWSSW CRPO).

The HART Hub is an innovative newly funded program that is dedicated to supporting individuals facing homelessness as well as mental health and addiction concerns. HART Hub will offer comprehensive services that include mental health and addiction treatment housing support and collaborative care.

Addiction Counsellors within this program can expect to meet with participants in the community and travel to different HART Hub locations within Waterloo Region. Time with participants may involve psychotherapeutic supportive and skill-based counselling depending on the participants stage of change and individual goals. Motivational interviewing solution focused therapy and harm reduction approaches may frequently be used.

** This is a permanent salaried full-time (37.5 hours per week) position with paid sick time personal days vacation time; group health benefits and defined contribution pension plan.

Schedule: Generally daytime hours (9am to 5pm) with some flexibility to meet program needs.

Valid G class drivers license required.

A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Records Check required. **

Key Responsibilities:

• Substance use assessments and program screening intake completion discharge and referral

• Develop treatment plan collaboratively with participant monitor and evaluate participant progress

• Develop accommodation plans for participants as needed

• Develop and implement evidence-based programming including creating and promoting specialized workshops that address the needs of the community

• Individual and group counselling delivered both in person and virtually using an eclectic therapeutic approach

• Case management including case consultation treatment planning and working collaboratively with external and internal partners

• Assess complex situations and make appropriate decisions independently and as part of a team including crisis intervention risk assessment and safety planning.

• Establish strong therapeutic rapport and maintain appropriate professional relationships

• Complete documentation and data entry in accordance with agency and legislative requirements

• Maintain confidentiality in compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

• Participation and involvement in other programs Addiction Services and broader agency activities

• Work as part of a team including attending the team meetings trainings and regular supervision meetings

• Support onboarding and training of new team members

• Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

• Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and all marginalized populations

• Commitment to stage matched strengths based person-centred quality psychotherapy services

• Knowledge of and training in substance use including associated health risks

• Knowledge of community resources and provincial addiction treatment services

• Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry

• Demonstrated ability to calmly problem-solve in a fast-paced sometimes stressful environment;

• Strong communication and listening skills

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team

• Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative

• Experience working within a non-profit and/or social services environment

• Commitment to work with and support training of students volunteers and new employees as required

• Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

• Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative

• Group facilitation and management skills

Education/Experience:

• University Degree in Counselling Social Work or a Related Field of Study

• Professional registration in good standing as either a Social Worker or Social Services Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or a Psychotherapist (including qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

• Minimum 1 year experience in an addiction and/or counselling setting

• Demonstrated understanding of working with individuals experiencing concurrent disorders

• Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of substances problematic substance use and recovery oriented interventions evidence informed practices and clinical treatment modalities required

Critical Skills:

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected;

• Exemplary emotional intelligence resilience communication conflict management and problem solving skills required;

• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff participants and community members;

• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds income levels and sensitivity to their needs;

• Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation program design evaluations of processes and service delivery;

• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a positive work environment including the ability to navigate change in a positive and productive manner

• Must be dependable professional flexible a team player and have a positive attitude;

• Respectful supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities addictions mental illness and other life challenges;

• Excellent project timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics planning and detailed record keeping;

Required Training/Certifications:

Current Standard First Aid and CPR A certificate

Crisis Intervention Training

Diversity and Inclusion Training

Compensation:

At House of Friendship we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair market competitive and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive succeed and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• Time off includes 3 weeks of vacation 5 personal days and paid sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year

• Full-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC) Dental Group Life Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Long Term Disability (LTD) Flexible Spending Account and Employee & Family Assistance Program

• We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program $2000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs

• We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of grades and we base our payment structure on internal determining rate of pay a candidates past related experience will be taken into consideration.

Grade: 5

Min: $27.31

Mid: $31.34

Max: $35.37

Working conditions:

• Required to work intensively with program participants in emotionally charged situations

• Required to assess situations and make decisions under pressure with minimal supervision or working alone

• Required to meet with participants in their homes and in the community for some programs

• Travel within Waterloo Region and Wellington County required for some programs

• Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice equity diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team and therefore our community can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples members of racialized groups persons with disabilities women and members of the 2SLGBTQIA community.

If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process including applying for this position please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community lets talk.

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter here:

By end of day June 17 2025.