Child and Youth Care Counsellor

at  Youth Empowerment Support Services

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1

Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) is currently seeking a qualified Full-Time Permanent Child and Youth Care Counsellor, to provide support at the Youth Support Centre(YSC).
What We Do
YESS is a not-for-profit agency working with youth facing difficult realities. Based in Edmonton, our Youth Support Centre provides immediate and low-barrier 24/7 sleep support and individualized wrap-around supports for young people aged 15 - 24.
We work collaboratively within a network of care focused on the prevention of youth homelessness by providing youth with the necessary supports to stabilize their housing, improve their wellbeing, build life skills, connect with community, and avoid re-entry into homelessness.
What You Will Do
The Child and Youth Care Counsellor (CYCC) will support the youth in developing skills for emotional and mental regulation by creating relevant, comprehensive safety plans and providing wrap-around support in a multidisciplinary team to resolve crises, alleviate feelings of distress and improve their sense of well-being.
Shift Schedule: 4 days on 4 days off
Hours: 11:00am-7:30pm
Location: 9310-82 Avenue, Edmonton AB

• One-on-one supportive counselling sessions with youth to provide risk assessments, complete comprehensive safety plans and provide skill development for emotional regulation and supporting youth following incidents to integrate insights into changed behavior
• Assess clients’ presentations through conversations, observations and appropriate psychometric tools to support client goals within their capacity
• Maintain case note documentation to CARF standards in order to provide insights relevant to a multi-disciplinary team on client management system, ETO
• Maintains confidentiality and privacy of counselling care
• Develop and facilitate therapeutic activities with groups of young people staying in a shelter environment to foster skills in hygiene, health, safety, relationships, emotional regulation, substance use, etc. in developmentally appropriate ways based on evidence-based research in collaboration with other team members
• Attends and presents at Service Team Meetings to advocate for youth needs with other professional supports
• Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team in case planning and provides consultation to other staff in trauma-informed interventions
• Develop program materials to integrate therapeutic insights, including workbooks, workshops and online lessons.
• Addresses external referrals from other agencies and parents of children. Provides ongoing referral resources for long-term therapeutic support to youth.
• Compile comprehensive quarterly objectives report on participation, programs and outcomes
• Provide ongoing assessment of the agency’s needs for mental health supports to assist in determining the level of functioning of youth
• Engages in ongoing professional development related to adolescent psychological development to benefit our collective practice
  Additionally, you will provide a professional level of service to donors, promote the agency in a positive manner to the outside community and share information, communicate, and collaborate with other YESS staff.

What You Bring

• Child and Youth Care Counselling degree
• Up to date registration with the CYCAA or eligibility to register with the CYCAA
• A minimum of 2-5 years’ experience in the human services field and/or working with youth facing difficult realities in a programming/facilitation capacity
• Minimum of 2 years directly related experience in:
• Crisis management, de-escalation and debrief processing
• Safety planning and risk assessment
• Motivational Interviewing
• Trauma Informed Care
• Working within a non-profit multi-disciplinary team
• Utilizing a single session model for 1:1 sessions
• Facilitating group activities
• Knowledge of the values, beliefs, and practices of Aboriginal and other cultural and diverse groups
• Previous experience working with ETO is considered an asset
• Experience using Bizconnect or intercom phones is considered an asset

Prerequisites

• Training in first aid
• Training in non-violent crisis intervention
• Training in suicide intervention and harm reduction
• ASIST Training Certified
• Trauma - Informed Care Training
• Clear Police clearance (CRIM) and a Child and Youth Intervention (CYIM) checks, both obtained within the last six months
• Valid driver’s license and driver’s abstract
• Proof of vehicle insurance (at least $1 million third party liability)

YESS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive and safe work environment for people of all backgrounds.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted will be contacted