Addiction Psychiatrist

About the Opportunity

The Mental Health and Addiction Program (MHAP) is seeking a 0.7 FTE addiction psychiatrist to work within collaborative inter-professional clinical teams, supporting and providing evidence-informed care for people living with concurrent disorders.  

The Physician (s) will work up to a total of 26 hrs/week.

This role is provincial working with MHAP teams across Nova Scotia. The role will focus on providing input into the development of supports and services for people living with concurrent disorders, capacity-building with physician and non-physician MHAP team members and provision of direct and indirect clinical care of adults. Work will take place primarily virtually. Some travel will be required. This FTE could be shared among multiple physicians.

This position reports to the Physician Lead, Addiction Medicine.

Example work settings:

Link to Recovery Support Centre site: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/recovery-support-centre

Link to Community Mental Health and Addictions site: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/adult-community-mental-health-and-addictions-services

Responsibilities

• Participate in collaborative activities and working groups focused on developing recommendations for evidence-informed care for people living with concurrent disorders.
• Help inform, develop and deliver education and training related to evidence-informed care for people living with concurrent disorders.
• Provide clinical teaching and mentorship of team members working in these settings.
• Provide clinical decision support to physicians and clinicians related to concurrent disorders care and treatment.
• Conduct patient-centred comprehensive assessments.
• Provide consultant physician support to patients in MHAP clinics such as Community Mental Health and Addictions and the Recovery Support Centres.
• Inform the process of appropriate patient psychiatric assessments, psychosocial and laboratory investigations, and pharmacological and psychosocial interventions as per current standard practice.
• Provide consultant case formulation and working diagnosis, where required, and establish goals of care co-creating with patients, clinical team, and family with consent.

• Make pharmacotherapeutic recommendations as part of the overall care plan.

• Facilitate connection to additional services and supports.
• Provide patients with support and encouragement to participate and make decisions in their own care, using a trauma-informed approach. Care is directed in a culturally relevant and appropriate manner.
• Occasional community outreach may be required to support integrated and transcultural care.

• Current medical license issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS).
• Must hold, or be willing to obtain, active credentials and privileges with Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA).
• Must maintain liability insurance through the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).
• Experience working in a variety of Addiction Medicine settings.
• Experience working within an interdisciplinary team to provide care and treatment for persons with moderate to severe psychiatric disorders an asset.
• Previous academic experience an asset.
• Fellowship in Psychiatry, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or equivalent e.g. MRCPsych with Certificate of Completion of Training in General Adult Psychiatry or American Board of Psychiatry Certified by Examination as determined by the Department of Psychiatry.
• Eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

For information on licensure in Nova Scotia, please consult the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia website at www.cpsns.ns.ca.

Community Details

Failte (that's "welcome", for those not up to speed on their Gaelic)!

Sydney is the historic capital of Cape Breton and largest urban centre on the island. From the harbourfront boardwalk complete with buskers and visiting cruise ships to the world's largest fiddle, Sydney will be sure to charm you! Physicians and their families build rewarding lives and careers in Cape Breton; see for yourself, here! It is in convenient proximity to all the major attractions on the Island like the world-famous Cabot Trail, Fortress of Louisburg, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in the beautiful village of Baddeck, and 6 amazing golf courses! You will find an island of magnificent natural beauty yet very modern. We have a full array of shops, restaurants, services, entertainment and amenities. In addition, the region remains young and vibrant as it is home to Cape Breton University.

Music is a large part of our Scottish cultural background. Sydney is surrounded by many smaller communities, each one offering its own uniqueness to an interested person. Here, kitchen parties are a way of life and you're never too far from the beautiful Highlands that inspired the region's first immigrants to name the province New Scotland. You will experience the view of a lifetime around every corner and surround yourself with the friendliest people in every community. Hike, cycle, swim, golf - all in an almost unreal beauty.

Physicians in Nova Scotia provide fulfilling patient care which embraces family life, professional development and community involvement. That's what makes practicing medicine in Nova Scotia unique. Physicians are increasingly attracted to practices that offer team-based care to their patients and allow them to consult with their peers. The size and scale of Nova Scotia allows for better connections across the health care system. Your practice of medicine and your life is richer here. Nova Scotia is more than medicine. 

Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. Our priority groups are Aboriginal People, African Nova Scotians, Persons with Disabilities and Recent Immigrants. Members of these groups are welcome to apply and self-identify if they wish to be considered under our Employment Equity policy.