REQUISITION DETAILS:

Employment Status: Temporary, Full-time (1.0 FTE)
Program: Hospice Services
Biweekly Hours: 75
Work Schedule: Days
Anticipated End Date: June 2026
On Call: No
Existing Vacancy: Yes - we’re currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Supportive Care Counsellor provides psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support to clients, families and caregivers/significant others by performing standardized holistic clinical assessment and intervention.

EDUCATION, DESIGNATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Divinity, Theology, Counseling, Psychology or other related field.
• Registration with the Provincial College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers or related field of discipline.
• Additional certification in Thanatology, Grief and Loss, Bereavement or equivalent.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in their area of discipline.
• Experience working in a clinical environment an asset.
• Experience with a range of therapeutic/intervention models.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrates compassion, empathy, integrity, respect, courtesy and a caring attitude in all interactions.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent listening and assessment skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication, organizational clinical problem solving skills.
• Computer proficiency and accuracy for all documentation and record keeping, paying attention to detail.
• Provide mentorship and guidance in a preceptor and leadership role.
• Flexible and supportive to Team needs.
• Other skills include conflict management and problem solving skills where issues may be sensitive.
• Adheres to all standards, practices, policies and procedures regarding privacy and confidentiality of information, and ethical practices as set forth by employer and regulating College.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides person-centered care; ensuring shared care team is aware of need for and meaning of a person-centered approach for clients, families and caregivers. .
• Provides individual, partner, family and group support therapies, health education, case management, community rehabilitation and development for clients as necessary.
• Connects, coordinates, advocates, educates and supports access to community resources, additional service needs for clients and families, providing information and guidance.
• Conducts comprehensive client assessments (includes discipline specific assessments and multidisciplinary assessment instruments, patient self-assessments, family assessments).
• Completes all case notes, maintaining up-to-date files at all times, and keeping accurate documentation and statistics.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of community resources and services and facilitates referrals as appropriate.
• Assists and facilitates coordinated care planning for clients and families, including coordination of practical needs as necessary.
• Collaborates with the client and other stakeholders, develops individualized client treatment/recovery plans.
• Assumes responsibility for the plan of care and support of assigned clients within the context of primary worker and the larger team.
• Advocates for clients and promotes self-advocacy and client self-determination as appropriate.
• Meets with clients, families and caregivers in a setting most appropriate (i.e. home, office, other).
• Acts as an ad hoc resource and support for the care team and with their own self-care and needs, as HPC providers.
• Documents, tracks and prioritizes care requests to ensure all clients/families receive timely response, including follow-up calls to clients and/or families to ensure care needs are being and have been met.
• Provides for a culture of sharing, openness, education and mentoring to other team members including health providers, students and volunteers.
• Participates in staff, team and community meetings or task groups from program planning, development and evolution.
• Other duties as assigned.

COMMON RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promotes the goals and values of VON and their role as an integrated community care provider.
• Promotes a safe and healthy workplace ensuring workplace conduct and activities are in accordance with the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and compliant with the VON Safety Management System, including all Policies, Safe Work Practices and Procedures.
• Abides by all VON policies and work practices.
• Abides by all confidentiality and protection of personal information policies, regulations and practices and ensures appropriate safeguards are in place within their role.
• Works in collaboration with other staff in a team approach to service delivery.