Ashish Sagar

Mental health, addictions, and community reintegration professional experienced in supporting marginalized adults with complex needs, including substance use, mental health challenges, justice involvement, FASD, and cognitive impairments. Skilled in recovery-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation, individualized care planning, therapeutic relationship building, crisis response, life skills support, and interdisciplinary coordination. Committed to promoting client independence, safety, and connection with community resources through respectful, client-centred care.

Care Coordinator - Vancouver Coastal Health

(2021-11)

Work as part of a multidisciplinary community team supporting clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns. Build therapeutic relationships, provide treatment support, deliver crisis intervention and group facilitation, and coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams and community resources.

• Apply knowledge of substance use, addiction treatment, non-violent crisis intervention, and recovery-oriented practice to support clients with complex needs.
• Complete social, psychosocial, and substance use assessments to inform individualized care planning.
• Build therapeutic rapport to help clients understand their illness, identify recovery goals, and engage with the rehabilitation process.
• Develop productive relationships with clients, service providers, and interdisciplinary team members while working independently and collaboratively.
• Respond to unexpected events by prioritizing client needs, resolving conflict, problem-solving, and managing crisis situations.

Acute Mental Health and Substance Use – Psychiatric Worker - Vancouver Coastal Health

(2018-04 - 2022-08)

Participated in the planning, development, implementation, delivery, and modification of client-focused treatment services in response to identified client needs and program guidelines.

• Supported psychiatric assessment and therapeutic care for clients with mental health needs, using a client- and family-centred approach.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members and communicated clearly in writing and verbally while maintaining confidentiality.
• Built therapeutic rapport to support clients’ understanding of their illness, treatment goals, and rehabilitation process.
• Provided day-to-day physical, emotional, and social support, advocacy, life skills assistance, and resource navigation for people with complex and persistent mental illness.
• Promoted client independence while assisting with activities of daily living, including personal care, bathing, and grooming.
• Observed and monitored client progress, symptoms, and behavioural changes, and reported significant observations as required.
• Motivated, assisted, and instructed clients in activities of daily living.
• Escorted clients to offsite activities, programs, and appointments.

Mental Health Rehabilitation Worker Tertiary MH Adult - Vancouver Coastal Health

(2017-03 - 2022)

Worked as a member of an interdisciplinary tertiary mental health team to provide comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation services within a recovery framework.

• Supported individuals transitioning back to the community by strengthening functional skills and daily living abilities.
• Provided physical, emotional, and social support, advocacy, life skills assistance, and resource navigation for people with complex and persistent mental illness.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to develop individualized rehabilitative treatment plans.
• Established and maintained respectful therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Helped maintain a safe environment for clients, staff, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Participated in team meetings, planning, quality improvement activities, and ongoing professional development.

Access Referral Worker - Vancouver Coastal Health

(2016-09 - 2019-08)

Worked within Vancouver Community Addictions Services to screen and refer adults and youth seeking withdrawal management support through the Access Referral Line.

• Coordinated client admissions to addictions residential housing and services, withdrawal management facilities, and partner agencies.
• Provided clear information to clients, families, health care providers, and the public.
• Coordinated bed availability with direct and contracted agencies, supported admissions to available beds, and maintained waitlists.
• Contributed to team planning, program development, evaluation, and quality improvement activities.

Detox Supervisor/ Health Care Worker - Salvation Army – Harbour Light Detox

(2013-10 - 2018-04)

Provided acute withdrawal management support for clients experiencing substance use challenges in a clean, safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment.

• Supported continuity of care by assigning clients to a consistent detox worker throughout the day.
• Provided leadership during crises, responded to client anger, and supported measures to maintain the safety of clients, staff, and the Detox Unit.
• Used active listening, clear communication, and de-escalation skills to support clients.
• Liaised with external resources and agencies to support client needs.
• Applied practical knowledge of mental illness, substance addictions, homelessness, poverty-related barriers, and life skills support.

House Supervisor - Westcoast Genesis Society – Genesis House CRF

(2008-05 - 2016-12)

Monitored and supervised residents’ compliance with conditional release terms through dynamic and static security while promoting the successful reintegration of high-need offenders into the community. Liaised with Parole Officers on residents’ behaviour, movement, accountability, and community progress.

• Managed resident caseload needs, held regular meetings with offenders and Case Management Teams, and prepared intervention plans and monthly progress reports for Community Parole Officers and the House Manager.
• Supervised residents in accordance with Correctional Service of Canada standards, contractual requirements, and agency policies to promote public safety and community reintegration.
• Collaborated with community agencies to help residents secure stable housing, employment, income support, and positive personal contacts.

BA - CRIMINAL JUSTICE; Focus: Criminal Theory, Corrections, Legal Studies, & Restorative Justice. - UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY (2008)

Diploma - Criminology - DOUGLAS COLLEGE, New Westminster, BC (2007)