Child & Youth Counsellor- Inpatient Units

at  Youthdale Treatment Centres

POSITION SUMMARY

The Child & Youth Counsellor is responsible for providing a therapeutic and safe environment for the children and youth in Youthdale’s programs on a day-to-day basis. A member of an inter-professional team, the Child & Youth Counsellor is responsible for carrying a primary care caseload.
Reporting to the Clinical Operations Manager, the Child & Youth Counsellor, is responsible for ensuring a therapeutic and safe environment on a day-to-day basis. Assessment and milieu therapy is provided in accordance with individual client treatment plans, evidence based practices, Youthdale’s policies and procedures and guidelines established by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOH).
Location: Inpatient Unit (227 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario)
Hours: 40 hours per week
Status: Full-time Permanent
Union/Non: This is a unionized position
Rate of pay: $25.3433 per hour

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A college diploma or university degree in child and youth work or a relevant field is required
• Minimum one year in a residential or inpatient setting.
• Experience working with children or youth in a mental health setting is preferred.
• Experience working with diverse communities.

SKILLS/ABILITY/KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the complex issues facing children, youth and families.
• Sensitivity to and ability to work with a diverse client and staff group.
• You have knowledge of evidence-based practices for children and adolescents with mental health problems, including behavioural modification strategies, learning theories, counselling skills, crisis prevention and management and legislative requirements.
• Able to safely and effectively manage behavioural crisis situations and respond in a trauma-informed approach.
• Requires a working knowledge of professional, community and facility resources available to assist the child/family.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• First Aid/CPR certification is required upon hiring.
• Completion of SMG training is required upon hiring.
• Valid G License and will be required.
• Ability to work flexible hours within a rotating schedule, including days, nights and weekends.
• Skills in Mental Health Assessment and Crisis Intervention.
• Excellent communication (written and oral), listening and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-Solving
• Good understanding of the rights and responsibilities of children in residence; admission requirements; and Live-In licensing requirements
• Ability to manage many tasks simultaneously; ability to prioritize needs and risks on a minute-by-minute basis while on shift
• Flexible and creative negotiation skills in solving problems
• Crisis Prevention and Management Skills
• demonstrates knowledge of a range of crisis prevention and intervention approaches
• Utilizes SMG techniques appropriately
• Knowledge of Clinical Issues and Best Treatment Practices
• Demonstrates understanding of the dynamics and impact of trauma, child abuse, loss and grief, substance abuse, chronic learning problems, attachment difficulties, and other issues, and their treatment implications
• Demonstrates knowledge about the primary psychotropic medications used in the treatment of children/youth and their actions and side effects
• Recognizes the impact on children and youth of having parents with chronic mental illness
• Able to develop and implement individual client treatment plan reviews, program evaluation, and educational programs and knowledge of professional, community and facility resources available to assist the child/family
• Counselling Skills
• Demonstrates ability to engage the child or youth and family in the treatment process
• Family-Centered Approach
• Uses language and behavior which is respectful of children, youth and their families
• Demonstrates sensitivity to family concerns and needs, and invites their expression of information, concerns and needs
• Ability to set appropriate, respectful boundaries with each family
• Competency-Based Approach
• Understands and implements a strengths-based approach in working with child and family
• Respects and has a knowledge of diverse populations and their needs
• Multi-Disciplinary Approach
• Works in a cooperative, respectful and collaborative manner as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Demonstrates ability to participate in making treatment decisions in the best interest of the child and family
• Legislative Requirements and Standards
• rights and responsibilities of children
• role of the Child Advocate
• confidentiality
• Demonstrates knowledge through the practice of the Child and Family Services Act as it pertains to children in treatment, specifically:
• Demonstrates knowledge through the practice of the Children’s Mental Health Ontario Accreditation Standards
• Communication Skills
• Excellent and effective oral and written communication skills to liaise and consult with relevant team members and clinicians, to provide counsel to residents, their families and community agencies.
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
• Professionalism
• Ability to exercise professionalism and sound judgement in conflictual and stressful situations.
• Conducts all activities in a professional manner
• adheres to the agency’s Code of Professional Conduct
• Performs work in a positive manner
• provides treatment activities regardless of personal biases and attitudes

ACCOUNTABILITY

This position reports directly to the Clinical Operations Manager
Supervises: Child and Youth Work students
Works collaboratively with the inter-professional team, client families/guardians, and community resources

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fosters positive interpersonal relationships with the staff, clients, visitors, outside agencies, government officials and related professional associations.
• Maintains and adheres to organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintains and adheres to all relevant legislation.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Works safely in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Agency Health and Safety Manual.
• Demonstrates clinical practices, which are consistent with the mission, vision and philosophy of Youthdale Treatment Centres.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assesses and understands client mental health needs through a developmental and trauma-informed lens and formulates methods of intervention in collaboration with the team.
• Implements specific treatment interventions as indicated in the client’s individual treatment program including individual counseling and group therapy; recognizing the stages of behavioural escalation and responding in a clinically appropriate manner to deescalate the behavior; developing strategies to reduce the client’s concerning behaviours, and supporting academic/vocational activities.
• Carries out the structure and routine of the program and ensure all clients receive a high standard of care and therapeutic intervention.
• Facilitates debriefing with clients following a crisis/physical intervention
• Assists with normal activities of daily living; recognizes physical signs and symptoms of health conditions, report concerns to nurse and/or physician as per program procedures; provides an assessment of a client in accordance with the Plan of Care goals; provides behaviour support.
• Writes client’s progress reports and ensures that client records are maintained, as per agency standards and in accordance with privacy policies and legislation.
• Responsible at shift change for communicating verbally as well as in the written log any significant and pertinent information regarding each client.
• Develops, implements, evaluates and fully participates in life skills and recreational programming.
• Following successful completion of the Medication Training Program, administers regular scheduled medications and treatments, as prescribed by a physician or Nurse Practioner, and in accordance with Youthdale’s Medication Procedure.

Medications, including orders from General Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners, are reviewed at Live-in Treatment admission by Youthdale physicians, and updated as needed

• As a Primary Counselor responsible for establishing a therapeutic relationship with an assigned client(s) from intake to discharge, including direct client care and supervision of the following:
• Welcome and orientation to the physical space and program at admission, and anything else at intake
• Provision of individual care as per the treatment plan, developing and supporting their engagement in programs
• Booking annual health care, clothing and personal needs inventories and arranging purchases as required
• Supporting the client to express their needs
• Reporting progress and identifying concerns at shift change and/or inter-professional meetings
• Supporting the client’s preparations for transition and discharge as per the agreed plan including connecting with community resources and completing the discharge documentation
• Maintains clinical records and documents in accordance with Youthdale and program policies and processes, such as:
• Data collection related to specific individual programs
• Complete Progress Notes in client’s clinical file
• Conference reports on individual clients for use/information purposes for the treatment team
• LIT/unit shift report, noting observations on individual clients
• Complete incident reports serious occurrence, accident/injury and unusual occurrence reports, risk management and secure isolation documentation as indicated by program procedures and agency policies
• Actively participates in the communication processes within the program, across the facility and with community partners by:
• Liaising with family, guardians, educational and community partners to share/obtain information;
• Attending meetings (within YOUTHDALE and the community) to provide information, education and progress updates
• Providing in-school support as needed
• Identifying compliance-related issues to ensure the program meets licensing requirements.
• Effectively utilizes internal communication systems to convey client and program-related information.
• Attends and participates in meetings such as:
• Treatment and Plan of Care meetings to review the client’s progress, to receive and recommend direction on treatment for clients, and to discuss future directions
• In-service and other educational programs
• Shift changes, unit meetings, all staff forums, program meetings
• Performs related duties such as:
• Float money management as per agency procedures
• Housekeeping duties to meet acceptable standards of cleanliness
• Ensuring safety requirements are met including Emergency drills, night safety checks, noting and reporting structural and/or equipment problems; removing any immediate hazards
• Assisting in the instruction and supervision of students
• Some meal preparation and serving of client meals
• Participates in and supports Youthdale/Ministry research and education initiatives by:
• Completing questionnaires
• Completing outcome measurement tools and rating scores as required by programs/protocols
• Collecting and maintaining statistics, program evaluation and research data as requested
• Represents the Agency in a professional manner when -interacting with families, external professionals, the general public and community partners.
• Participates actively in team meetings, supervision sessions, and ongoing Ministry and Agency mandated training on a regular basis.
• Works any assigned shift during a twenty-four (24) hour period
• Other Duties as Assigned