MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR PERMANENT PART-TIME (FTE 0.5) - PSSP-2024-05-24-013

at  Trillium Lakelands District School Board

POSITION SUMMARY

This is a part-time (0.5 FTE) position associated with the school year calendar.
The Mental Health Counselor with a focus on Indigenous Students) provides support services primarily to Indigenous students and their families to foster balance with physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness. Additionally, they provide counseling and psychosocial help to Indigenous students and parents, to address the psychological and social emotional well-being of the students. Under the direction of the Superintendents, with clinical support from the Manager of Mental Health Services, the Mental Health Counselor, with a focus on Indigenous Students will provide direct mental health support intervention (individual and group) to referred student(s) or classes. The Mental Health Counselor, with a focus on Indigenous Students will provide professional learning and capacity building to staff, both in schools and at the system level, as well as school communities that align with the Mental Health Strategy and equity goals of the Board.
The Mental Health Counselor with a focus on Indigenous Students will also work with outside support services or agencies to support community pathways of service for intervention and treatment needs for Indigenous students. Crisis response for critical incidents are included in the Mental Health Counselor’s portfolio.

Direct Service
Provide culturally responsive developmentally and age appropriate evidence-based services to students at the elementary and secondary level
Collaborate and consult with teachers/school personnel /administrators with respect to supporting students experiencing lagging skills in social emotional learning and/or mental health issues
Provide direct and indirect school social work services as a related service in support of special education
Provide classroom-based workshops intended to build skills and resiliency in areas of social emotional learning and mental health and wellbeing; targeting Universal Needs
Provide individual support and/or intervention for students who are suspended and/or expelled
Conduct screening and psychosocial assessments of students who present with mental health issues, to determine the level of support required and/or appropriate interventions strategies
Provide short term interventions (individual) to students who present with identified mental health needs and are not able to access community children’s mental health services e.g. brief structured psychotherapy programs
Provide small group interventions to students who present with mental health needs
Collaborate with various stakeholders to encourage community pathways to and from Children’s Mental Health Services, Addiction services, and community services and treatment services in order to ensure a smooth transition for students who require more intensive therapeutic interventions
Collaborate with and contribute to engagement and learning opportunities with parents and caregivers
Collaborate with Curriculum and Specialized Services to develop and implement system wide professional learning specific to Indigenous well-being
Assist with Board-wide crises related to risks of self-harm and other critical incidents
Maintain appropriate documentation and records
Other professional duties as assigned
Indirect Service
Support Board policies, processes, and service delivery related to mental health programs and interventions that align with Ministry initiatives
Maintain documentation and tracking of services offered to Indigenous students to address addiction, mental health or emotional needs
Build capacity of educators so they are able to support their students learning and the implementation of Universal Tier 1 programming that reflects best practices in social emotional learning, belonging, inclusion, engagement and culturally responsive mental health literacy
Collaborate and consult with teachers/school personnel /administrators and the board’s Indigenous Student Success Team with respect to supporting students experiencing lags in social emotional learning and/or mental health issues.
Consult with the Manager of Mental Health Services for support, direction or input regarding mental health related issues.
Qualifications
Indigenous lived experience
Preferred: Experience working with Indigenous youth at the elementary and/or secondary school level
Registered professional and/or eligible for registration in the OCSWSSW or another regulatory body
Preferred: Bachelor or Masters of Social Work[1]
3+ years of experience in clinical work related to mental health and addictions
Demonstrated ability to provide brief evidence-based interventions with children, youth, and families
Strong knowledge on social and emotional learning research, evaluation, strategies, theories, techniques, and methods of intervention/instruction for the school board
Demonstrated commitment to Equity and contributing to a workplace culture of inclusiveness
Superior and demonstrated organizational and communication skills
Able to utilize a number of applications in the delivery of professional development
Ability to work independently and in collaboration with other teams and stakeholders
Possesses strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create productive and healthy relationships
A thorough understanding of all relevant legislation and standards of practice
As travel is required, candidates must possess a valid Ontario Driver’s License and their own vehicle
Interested applicants should forward their cover letter and resume quoting posting PSSP-2024-05-24-013 by 4pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024 to Allison Jones, Manager of Mental Health Services
c/o Naomi Shipley: naomi.shipley@tldsb.on.ca
Trillium Lakelands District School Board
300 County Road 36, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R4
Your application package must be submitted in either .pdf or .docx format. We would like to thank all respondents, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Trillium Lakelands District School Board is committed to equitable hiring practices and upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. To assist the Board in reflecting the communities we serve, we encourage and welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, and/or lived experiences who may be a member of a marginalized group.
Trillium Lakelands District School Board complies with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please individual to whom you are submitting your application.
If you require this information in an accessible format, please contact Communications Services at info@tldsb.on.ca.
@tanya.fraser@tldsb.on.ca
Are there any required qualifications?
_Assigned to tanya.fraser@tldsb.on.ca