Counsellor

Do you want to work for a health care organization that changes people's lives? One that not only cares deeply about clients, but also values its employees as its greatest asset?

**Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada** is a unique health services organization that serves people who are blind or partially sighted across the country. Our certified specialists provide training that empowers clients to develop or to restore activities of daily living skills, to promote their independence, to enhance safety and mobility. We work closely with ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other health care professionals, by providing essential care on a referral basis in homes, workplaces, and communities across the country.

We offer competitive salaries and benefits, flexible schedules, and opportunities to grow.

For more information about Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, please visit visionlossrehab.ca or call 1-844-887-8572.

**Position Title**: Counsellor

**Location**: Saint John, NB (or remote anywhere in New Brunswick)

**Term**: Full time, Contract

**Reports To**: Provincial Manager, Service and Operations

**Date**: 15th August 2023

**I. Scope and Summary of Primary Responsibilities**

This position is focused on the provision of counselling intervention to clients accessing Vision Loss Rehabilitation Services. The role requires the ability to demonstrate professional ethics and practices expected of a counsellor, while offering a service that is responsive, confidential, person-centred, and focussed on adjusting to vision loss.

The role is positioned to enable clients to work towards and receive service provision offered by Vision Loss Rehabilitation services. Where necessary, external referrals to other agencies are actioned.

**II. Essential Functions**

**The position entails, but is not limited to the following general responsibilities**:

- Provides high quality, professional, and confidential adjustment to vision loss counselling service to people with vision loss.
- Conducts an initial assessment and associated administration to establish counselling service that would be helpful to the client in their adjustment to vision loss.
- Provides information, advice, and guidance to ensure that clients of all ages continue to be supported throughout their sight loss journey.
- Develops a structured and agreed set of counselling sessions that will meet the needs of the client followed by a formal re-assessment and review of these plans with the client at a predetermined time. The client base may include the parents of a youth.
- Documents at the level of required professional standard of a provider of counselling and meets the organizational reporting requirements.
- Encourages individual independence but acknowledges at times support is a necessary part of achieving this outcome and prepares clients for this transition.
- Provides professional and appropriate referrals to other internal and external programs/teams that will benefit the client while maintaining confidentiality.
- Records all required data into VLR data system in a timely manner, consistent with VLRC standards, including visit/time spent in service provision.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Requirements**:
**III. Qualifications**

**Knowledge and Skill Requirements**
- Personal or professional experience relating to blindness and vision loss is considered an asset.
- Ability to speak both English and French is an asset.
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with emphasis on interviewing skills using a person-centered approach.
- Self-directed, organized, and detail oriented with the ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to work in a team environment and independently, with minimum supervision and use good judgment.
- Proficient in use of both standard office software and specialized client management technology.

**Experience and Education**
- Post
- secondary qualifications in counselling.
- Has registration or in the process of training to gain registration with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association or the equivalent designation in Canada.

**Benefits**

We thank all applicants for their interest in VLRC, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

**Closing Date for Applications: 15th September, 2023