Child & Youth Counsellor, Secure Unit

at  Youthdale Treatment Centres

POSITION SUMMARY

The Child & Youth Counsellor is responsible for providing a therapeutic and safe environment for the children and young people 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 – Secure Unit, 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: $27.3433 per hour

LIFE SKILLS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING:

• Develop, implement, evaluate, and fully participate in life skills and recreational programming.

SUPPORT RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES:

• Participate in and support Youthdale/Ministry research and education initiatives, including completing questionnaires, evidence-informed outcome measurement tools, rating scores at set intervals, and collecting and maintaining statistics, program evaluation, and research data as requested.
  Other Duties as assigned by Clinical Operations Manager.
  Child & Youth Counsellors in the Secure Unit will be required to provide coverage on other Inpatient Units on an as-needed basis.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• College diploma or university degree in child and youth work or relevant field is required.
• Minimum three years’ experience in a high-risk live-in or inpatient setting with population presenting criminogenic, cognitive impairment and/or mental health challenges.
• Previous experience working with children or young people in a youth justice/mental health treatment setting is preferred.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Knowledge and working experience with evidence based practices and Dialectical Behavior Therapy is preferred.

SKILLS/ABILITY/KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the complex issues facing children, young people and families.
• Sensitivity to and ability to work with a diverse client and staff group.
• You have knowledge of evidence-based practices for high-risk children and adolescents with criminogenic and/or mental health problems, including behavioural modification strategies, learning theories, counselling skills, risk assessment, crisis prevention and management and legislative requirements.
• Able to safely and effectively manage frequent behavioral crisis and potentially volatile situations and respond in a trauma-informed approach.
• Demonstrates experience in de-escalation skills and techniques to manage high-stress scenarios.
• Strong knowledge and adherence of security protocols as required for a high-risk crisis setting.
• 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 required upon hiring.
• Completion of SMG training required upon hiring.
• 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 experience in a range of crisis prevention and intervention approaches
• Utilizes SMG techniques appropriately
• Ability to remain calm during crisis and utilize de-escalation techniques
• Knowledge of Clinical Issues and Best Treatment Practices
• Demonstrates experience 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 experience 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 experience to engage the child or youth and family/guardian/caregiver in the treatment process
• Demonstrates experience assess risk and safety plan
• Client and Family-Centered Approach
• Uses language and behavior which is respectful of children, young 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 experience in making treatment decisions in the best interest of the child and family
• Legislative Requirements and Standards
• Demonstrates experience through practice of the Child and Family Services Act as it pertains to children in treatment, specifically:
• Rights and responsibilities of children
• Role of the Child Advocate
• Confidentiality
• Demonstrates experience through 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, clinicians, and 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: Clinical Operations Manager – Secure Unit
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.
• Maintains and adheres to security protocol of program.
• 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 experience in clinical practices, which are consistent with the mission, vision and philosophy of Youthdale Treatment Centres.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

• Perform related duties such as float money management, housekeeping duties to meet acceptable standards of cleanliness, ensuring safety requirements are met, assisting in the instruction and supervision of students, and some meal preparation and serving of client meals.