Cheryl Andrews
Edmonton,AB
Summary
Highly organized and dependable candidate adept at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Demonstrates a willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet team goals. Experienced case manager with a meticulous and efficient approach to counseling for addictions and managing large caseloads. Exhibits strong time management skills, consistently meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality client service. Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with a comprehensive understanding of the Canadian Model and privacy legislation. Actively utilizes online resources to stay current on human rights legislation. Thrives on problem-solving and takes pride in supporting individuals to take ownership of their life choices while strategizing potential solutions. A professional with a strong background in substance abuse case management, equipped to drive impactful outcomes. Skilled in client assessment, treatment planning, and crisis intervention. Emphasizes team collaboration and adaptability to meet evolving needs. Known for empathy, organizational skills, and effective communication. Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, a willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Substance Abuse Case Manager
Christian Labour Association of Canada
03.2019 - Current
- Manage a large caseload of 50-70 open cases until they are successfully closed and the member opts out of the process
- Be the first point of contact for members who have tested positive for drugs or alcohol
- Be the first point of contact for members self-disclosing a substance abuse problem
- Organize a step-by-step approach that meets the needs of the member and ultimately returns them to work
- Arrange to have the member assessed and based on the assessment recommendations, manage the members case until they have fulfilled the recommendations and are deemed able to safely return to work
- Keep all interested parties up to date on the members progress
- Speak to the members weekly to support them in meeting the expectations of their assessment and to insure that they are moving forward in addressing each safety concern through counseling, education or treatment
Facilitator-Court Ordered Anger Management Program
Elizabeth Fry Society
05.2018 - 01.2019
- Set up room for attendees who were court mandated to attend
- Organize and develop material to support learning
- Monitor time to insure that all materials were covered
- Manage outbursts and debates around material and the attendees resentment of having to be there
- Work to make the subject interesting and engaging to the participants
Intake Supervisor
Our House Treatment and Recovery Centre
11.2016 - 07.2018
- After working as an Addiction Counsellor at Our House for one year, I was offered the position of Intake Supervisor
- My responsibility regarding this position was to meet with potential clients and conduct motivational interviews designed to assess their readiness for change
- My focus was on their ability to complete a 1 year residential treatment program and to discuss the various ways in which their disease has affected their lives
- Although my job at this juncture was to assess the individuals readiness for treatment, I often provided in-the-moment counseling as the clients were in disarray and desperate for help
- I acted as first line of support while clients waited for acceptance and bed availability
- I also liaised with AHS and, Alberta Works Income Support to assist clients who required funding for the Our House program
- Some of my subsequent intake responsibilities included obtaining signed informed consent and other admission forms from the clients
- Conducting client orientation and clarifying treatment centre rules
- Assigning counselors and rooms
- Creating client file in the data base
- Arrange for existing prescription medications and scheduling medical appointments, entering medical information
- Provide counselors with initial impression of clients and their potential needs, based on my interview
- Review every document that the client signs and insure understanding
- Even though I was no longer counseling full-time, in addition to intake duties, I was still required to keep a caseload of six clients
- I was required to provide coverage for colleagues in their absence
- I would attend morning/weekly staff meetings and work to alleviated the concerns of the counselors related to my intake interview
- I answered numerous questions regarding funding, returned phone calls in a timely manner and responded to referrals from outside agencies
Addiction Counsellor
Our House Treatment and Recovery Centre
11.2015 - 11.2016
- As an addiction counsellor, I was required to carry and manage a caseload of 12 clients and to meet with each client weekly for one hour
- Facilitated life skills modules each month for a group of 10-15 clients
- These modules included but were not limited to: Codependency, Communication, Addiction As A Disease, Relationships, and Relapse Prevention
- I was permitted to counsel my clients without outside influence and would develop unique strategies for each client
- As part of my duties I was required to maintain accurate and timely counseling notes and to provide comprehensive care and report to the Executive Director each month
- My background in Conflict Resolution was particularly helpful when clients were having difficulty getting along
- I was frequently asked to conduct mediation by other counselors as they aware of my experience in this field
- Solely responsible for developing and launching the 'Family Education Series' program for the purpose of education but was also extremely helpful in reunifying families
- This program continues to run monthly
Facilitator
Alberta Mediation Services
03.2012 - 04.2015
- In my role as a mediator I focused on families in conflict, specifically spouses who were separating or divorcing and were required to work out a parenting agreement for their children
- Within those boundaries my position was to be a neutral facilitator in assisting my clients in moving through their anger and focusing on a plan that would meet the needs of their children
- My skill in listening and encouraging healthy communication between the parties was essential in arriving at an agreement in which both parties felt heard and validated
Facilitator
Native Counseling Services
05.2011 - 06.2012
- Responsible in my roll as a Family Group Conference Facilitator, I was responsible for investigating the possibility of healthy family, who be would be acceptable to offer kinship care to children who were in at risk of being apprehended by Children's Services or had already entered the system and were residing in foster homes
- I was responsible for every aspect of the meeting including making travel arrangements for all parties, organizing accommodations and picking the meeting site
- These meeting included, parents, aboriginal elders, extended family, foster parents, social worker and the child/children in question
- Utilizing my strong organizational skills, the conference was to follow a very strict pattern that was taught to me at Blue Quills College, in order to arrive at a viable plan for returning the child to family in a timely fashion
- Vital to this position was constructing a plan that would ensure the safety of the children and would meet the criteria of Children's Services for the plan to be comprehensive yet uncomplicated
- I conducted numerous conferences for NCS of Alberta and I am proud to report that each one of them was successful in providing hope for reunification
Education
Secondary School - Labour Relations
University of Calgary
12.2021
Associate of Arts - Counseling
Bryson University
Palm Desert California09.2013
AEC / DEP or Skilled Trade Certificate - Mediation and Arbitration
Grant MacEwan College
10.2011
Certificate - Family Reconciliation
Blue Quills First Nations College
St. Paul, AB05.2011
High School Diploma -
Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute
Scarborough, ON06.1979
Skills
- Addiction Counseling and Training
- Knowledge of privacy legislation, human rights and the Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace
- Public Speaking
- Case Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Administrative Experience
- Time Management
- Program Development
- Meeting Facilitation
- Organizational Skills
- Supervising Experience
- Client advocacy
- Case documentation
- Suicide risk assessment
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Effective communication
- Proficient in Micro-soft Office and Unionware Program
Languages
English
Timeline
Substance Abuse Case Manager
Christian Labour Association of Canada
03.2019 - Current
Facilitator-Court Ordered Anger Management Program
Elizabeth Fry Society
05.2018 - 01.2019
Intake Supervisor
Our House Treatment and Recovery Centre
11.2016 - 07.2018
Addiction Counsellor
Our House Treatment and Recovery Centre
11.2015 - 11.2016
Facilitator
Alberta Mediation Services
03.2012 - 04.2015
Facilitator
Native Counseling Services
05.2011 - 06.2012
AEC / DEP or Skilled Trade Certificate - Mediation and Arbitration
Grant MacEwan College
Certificate - Family Reconciliation
Blue Quills First Nations College
High School Diploma -
Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute
Secondary School - Labour Relations
University of Calgary
Associate of Arts - Counseling
Bryson University
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