Child, Youth & Family Counsellor

Location: Pitt Meadows

Detailed Overview

Working within a framework of cultural safety and humility, trauma informed practice, and using best practices and research evidence, the Child, Youth, and Family Counsellor provides assessment, planning, treatment interventions and supports. Practices and approaches are considerate of each child or youth’s family and community context. The Child, Youth, and Family Counsellor supports care coordination across child, youth and family services, local service areas, and regional and provincial services.

Emphasis is on reducing barriers and facilitating timely access to clinical and non-clinical service where appropriate and feasible through collaborative, respectful relationships with community professionals. Services may be provided on an outreach basis when required to assess and/or engage with clients within their own environment and community. The Child, Youth, and Family Counsellor may be assigned as the "most responsible clinician" to specific clients dependent on the client's primary needs.

Responsibilities Performs initial screening of referrals for children, youth and families within the community. Referrals may be received from other health care providers, community partners, family members and caregivers of children/youth with mental health disorders and addictions issues, physicians, and other sources to determine appropriate support based on client needs, urgency of request and best practices. Provides direct clinical services for mental health and substance use such as intake, assessment, treatment, suicide risk assessments and crisis intervention;

case management, consultation/liaison with community agencies, schools, hospitals, and other programs. Provides first level intervention and support such as short-term brief interventions, follow-up, monitoring, and evaluating treatment outcomes. Provides referrals to external agencies, internal services and other relevant resources. Provides a consultative service to and knowledge exchange with other staff within Mental Health & Substance Use Services, as well as to external organizations such as Child and Youth Mental Health (MCFD), community agencies, and other service providers who provide services to children, youth and families.

Develops and/or delivers information sessions through determining relevant content and required handouts, conducts literature searches, plans, and coordinates seminars that increase awareness in the development of culturally appropriate assessments, planning and treatment for children, youth and their families. Participates in program development with consideration to child, youth and family needs. Plans, initiates, implements, and facilitates therapeutic and recreational group programming in a manner that is trauma informed and fosters healing, and continued growth and development.

Maintains client records by recording information such as client assessments, charting client information via PARIS and/or other clinical information systems, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures to meet regulatory requirements, documenting for future reference and ensuring that access to and disclosure of information and records are in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

Maintains relevant data and statistics on information such as intakes, requests, referrals in/out, priority, sources, and nature of requests, and provides input to ICY Program Lead or Manager. Participates actively and collaboratively in ICY team planning, team meetings, committees, and/or corporate initiatives through discussions, presenting relevant material, acting as an advocate for the goals and objectives of the program, and promoting optimal support for clients, families, and caregivers.

Promotes quality improvement through recommendations on policies, processes and procedures that streamline and provide for more efficient and effective client/family centred practices; develops and evaluates clinical protocols, identifies service needs, and provides input and recommendations to the ICY Program Lead and Manager. Maintains current knowledge of relevant…