RECENT OR POTENTIAL GRADS: Counsellor, Mental Health and Addiction Services

  • Location: Dartmouth, NS
  • Deadline: July 22, 2021

Counsellor, Mental Health and Addiction Services

Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medavie Health Services that manages and operates ground ambulance, air medical transport and the medical communications operations in Nova Scotia through a performance-based contract with the provincial government’s Emergency Health Services (EHS) division and the Department of Health and Wellness. As well, EMC operates TeleHealth 811 medical communications for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for the Department of Health.

EMC delivers a high-quality pre-hospital care program and TeleHealth service to Nova Scotians each and every day. We achieve this through the more than 1,400 employees who work with us including highly-trained paramedics, nurses, medical communication officers and support staff.

Reporting to the Mental Health and Addiction Services Supervisor, the Counsellor, Mental Health and Addiction Services provides professional Tele and E-counselling and information services for individuals and their families through the use of evidence informed clinical practices and communication technologies. The Tele-Counsellor will provide professional services not limited to clinical assessment, treatment planning with the client, psycho educational services, resource counselling, warm referral and ongoing evaluation the client’s strengths and needs. The Counsellor will provide early identification and counselling related to various addiction issues such as problem gambling and tobacco use. The Counsellor will also provide front line support to other services within Telehealth Services as required. This position is governed by the NSGEU Collective Agreement.

Responsibilities

  • Provides counselling within the standards defined by professional counselling organizations, regulatory agencies, relevant legislation and the company’s approved policies and processes
  • Provides professional counselling using clinical judgment, computer-based assessment tools, information/communications technologies and appropriate evidence-based clinical guidelines and other relevant databases and resources
  • Applies clinical processes which are client centred and focus on self-care strategies to support clients in meeting their individualized goals.
  • Demonstrates compliance with all program specific performance metrics, participates in the evaluation and/or measurement of these metrics, and plays an active role in improving personal, team and program performance
  • Manages the call queue within the decision support software and in accordance with established policy
  • Provides information about community resources or other scripted health related information as requested to the people who access the call centres services and within prescribed scope of position
  • Completes satisfaction and other general public surveys from users of the Telecare service or from lists provided by the Department of Health, as requested
  • Navigates the RelayCare software and applies established policies and guidelines to assess with the client; their strengths and needs, intervene appropriately, and document on the client’s clinical record in a timely manner, throughout and immediately after the call
  • Liaises effectively between caller and other health care providers in all and critical situations, such as the need for ambulance transport and/or police assistance
  • Participates in the monitoring, review, improvement and revision of Mental Health and Addiction Services, with particular attention to clinical practices and processes

Qualifications

As the successful candidate, you will have an Undergraduate Degree in Social Work, psychology, certified Counselling Program or equivalent. You must belong to a relevant professional association and be licensed by the regulatory body in Nova Scotia to practice. You must provide a photocopy license to practice each year and maintain good standing with the regulatory body. You must have one (1) to two (2) years post-secondary clinical experience (addictions counselling experience preferred), excellent communication, telephone and customer service skills, excellent critical thinking, clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills, strong knowledge and competence in the use of computers keyboarding and systems navigation and the ability to communicate orally and written in both French and English languages are preferred. Fluency written and oral in the Mi`kmaq language is also considered an asset.

If interested in this opportunity, please apply with your cover letter and resume by July 21, 2021

All applicants welcome however please note that preference will be given to bilingual applicants.

EMC thanks all applicants for applying. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Work With Us

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the citizens we serve. We are committed to building an inclusive team that represents a variety of backgrounds, cultures, races, perspectives and skills. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons of any sexual orientations and gender identities and/or expressions, Indigenous persons, African Canadians, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities. Candidates who identify as being from any of these groups are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify.