Youth Counsellor - FTAP

The John Howard Society of North Island•Campbell River, BC

17h•CA$40 - CA$51•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Counsellor – FTAP provides primary supervisory and support services to the youths participating in the Full-Time Attendance Programs. This is a temporary position, covering a leave of absence that is estimated to last for approximately 13 months. The role involves organizing and monitoring youths’ individualized day programming.

Requirements

Must be authorized to work in Canada and at our organization on an ongoing basis.
Two completed, acceptable criminal record checks are required: one from the Criminal Records Review Program through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and one from the Canadian Criminal Record Search of the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records, the Canadian Police Information Centre, and the Police Information Portal.
Requires union membership with Health Sciences Association.
Post-Secondary degree in counselling, child care work or a related field.
First Aid training is required.
Driving is required to attend meetings and to enable contact with youth/families at home or in the community.
Must have a valid driver's licence and access to safe, reliable transportation, and must obtain appropriate insurance as per Society policy.
A minimum of two years’ experience working with high-risk youth in a counselling or other helping capacity required.
Experience counselling adolescents.
Ability and willingness to be trained in treatment issues.
Understanding of addiction and other abuse issues, and current treatment models.
Solid understanding of human services ethics with regard to confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
Ability to maintain a calm professional approach in crisis situations.
Demonstrated ability working constructively and cooperatively in a team setting.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Knowledge and experience with case recording practices.
Demonstrate a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding of the client population’s socio-economic characteristics.
Have the ability to form mutually respectful partnerships with persons served, their families, and their caregivers in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
Have the ability to work with any client that is referred and accept the differences they will find among their clients.
Have the ability to work with values and behaviours that are very different from those of the employee.
Ensure that personal values and beliefs are not insinuated, promoted, or imposed on the clients.
Accept clients’ rights to self-determination and individuality, and must not discriminate on the basis of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, socio-economic status, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.
Have a positive conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
Have the ability to work respectfully in partnership with other team members, including referring authorities.
Recognize the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
Have the ability to recognize persons with special needs and make appropriate referrals.
Have the ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of the practitioner, and to intervene appropriately to meet the needs of the persons served or other family members.
Have the understanding and the ability to support the youth’s learning experience in prescribed individual programming and treatment.
Have basic computer and internet skills.

Nice To Haves

Multilingual skills and multicultural competence are assets.
Experience with life skills/job skills programming an asset.

Responsibilities

Builds and maintains a positive supportive relationship with youth in the program.
Participates fully as a member of the case management team for each youth placement.
Develops and implements intervention plans within program guidelines in consultation with other members of the case management team.
Provides individual and/or group programming aimed at addressing youth issues/needs such as communication skills, anger management, conflict resolution, and problem solving.
Provides youth with opportunities to access community resources as required.
Facilitates the self-development and skill development of youth by identifying, recruiting and developing appropriate resources, and supporting youth participation in developmental activities, i.e. life skills, work placement, academic study, community services.
Provides direct intervention with the youth when required.
Assists in personal hygiene and basic care.
Responsible for ongoing contact and liaison with probation officers who are involved with the youth.
Facilitates open communication within the case management team.
Contributes to regular reporting procedures, including ongoing case notes, incident reports, monthly progress summaries, and exit reports.
Attends meetings as required by John Howard and the Ministry of Children and Families.
Represents John Howard in the community when required by the agency and the Ministry.
Participates in managing/balancing on-site petty cash and youth work budgets.
May be involved in coordinating and/or participating in activities with youth, which may include physical, outdoor or other active elements.
Follows the Code of Ethics and the Mission Statement of The John Howard Society of North Island.
Abides by the relevant rules and regulations and guidelines set out by the Ministry for Children and Family Development.