Birch - Senior Youth & Family Counsellor - Calgary, Canada - Woods Homes

Description

Birch - Senior Youth & Family Counsellor

23 Templeton Pl NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 3S1, Canada Req # Friday, October 27, Wood's Homes is a not-for-profit mental health centre based in Calgary, with locations across Alberta. Our mission is to build good mental health and well-being so everyone can thrive in their community. Are you a passionate and dedicated individual interested in making a difference in the lives of children, young people and families? Are you committed to cultivating an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates diverse voices at every level? Then we want you to join the Wood's Homes team.

Wood's Homes is searching for one full-time Senior Youth and Family Counsellor for our Birch Program.

The Birch Program serves one youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years who has complex mental health and behavioral concerns that requires more individualized treatment service delivery and strengths-based support. The Birch Program was created as a specialized service to care for young people who are needing these extraordinary supports, and for whom therapeutic campus-based care or long-term hospitalization have not been seen as suitable options. The intensity of need of these young people can be such that they require a higher staff-to-client-ratio to effectively manage their significant risk to self and/or others (e.g., self-harm, physical violence, property damage). The program provides a structured environment with wraparound supports to facilitate greater opportunities for learning emotional and behavioral regulation, social skill development, and community connection to help improve functioning and belonging, and to help prepare the client for adulthood.

Note: The Birch program is designed with the specific needs for the one identified client/youth it serves. These needs include sensitivity and reactivity to peers and caregivers. This requires counsellors to be skilled in a variety of proactive treatment and restrictive procedures as well as have the ability to anticipate and keep self and others safe from potentially reactive behavior.

Role Summary:

Reporting to the Management of Wood's Homes as determined by each program, the Senior Youth & Family Counsellor is the primary worker with children, youth and families, normally on rotating shifts that provide coverage twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and is a contributing member of a team providing service to children, youth and families within a structured setting. The Youth & Family Counsellor will demonstrate due diligence in being Exceptional in the delivery of high-quality services and in meeting the requirements of the Health and Safety Management System at Wood's Homes.

Responsibilities:

Implementing and maintaining a structured setting fostering the development of personal and social functioning for each client.

Participates actively in supervisory meetings, team meetings, and retreats, planning sessions, and designated in-service training.

Is responsible for a variety of therapeutic responsibilities for particular children, youth and their families including attendance at case conferences, involvement in intervention strategies, consultations, school meeting, doctor's appointments, family meetings etc. and related case management.

Maintains the upkeep of the living space of the program and ensures the provision of a program that fits the requirements of the Licensing Department.

Is responsible for a variety of tasks associated with program functioning including meal preparation, cleaning, and transportation of children, youth and families.

Completes all required health and safety training.

Reports workplace hazards, unsafe or unhealthy conditions, or incidents (including near misses, injuries, or equipment damage) to their direct supervisor.

Maintains a structured program setting that fosters the development of an appropriate level of personal and social functioning for each client.

Is responsible for administrative tasks as assigned including Schedule development and oversight, Client crisis management, Client systemic oversight and coordination, Client admission processes and case management, Budget and bookkeeping, Volunteer and Student management.

Provides leadership to the program staff by operationalizing a therapeutic milieu for clients and families.

Jointly facilitates the operationalization of the Health & Safety Management Systems with senior leadership and maintains front-line investment.

Qualifications:

Diploma/Undergraduate Degree in the Social Sciences, Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Nursing, and four years related experience in working with children, youth and families in a residential setting.

Current CPR and First Aid Certification.

Experience in working with young people preferred.

Current proof of professional registration may be required for certain diplomas or degrees.

Must have a full, non-GDL class 5 driver's license and own transportation.