Counselling consolidation approved

KITCHENER — Addiction counselling services will be consolidated at the House of Friendship on June 1, after the Local Health Integration Network board gave a green light to the move Wednesday.

The plan will eliminate the addiction counselling currently provided at St. Mary’s hospital, and consolidate all services with the House of Friendship.

The not-for-profit House of Friendship provides a range of addiction services for men, women and families dealing with drug, alcohol and gambling addictions.

Services are offered throughout the region and include withdrawal support, day and residential treatment and supportive housing.

The move means six full-time and two part-time social workers at the hospital will lose their jobs, while a part-time clerical support staff will move to another job at the hospital.

“We are very proud of the compassionate care our staff have provided to our clients over the years and we thank them for their dedication,” said Sherri Ferguson, St. Mary’s vice-president of quality, people and performance.

“They will continue to work with our clients to ensure a smooth transition.”

The move will transfer about $1 million of funding for addiction services from St. Mary’s to House of Friendship.

House of Friendship expects to be hiring for about 10 positions as part of the consolidation. Those new positions will be working not just in counselling, but in the full range of addiction support services, said John Neufeld, House of Friendship’s executive director.

In a news release, the health network says the change will increase access to addiction services.

Clients will be able to access the full range of addiction supports at a single site.