Youth Counselor

_YOUTH COUNSELLOR JOB OPPORTUNITY_

**JOB SUMMARY**

A Youth Counsellor is an individual who is responsible for building a sense of community within the Centre that can provide an opportunity for spiritual, mental, emotional and physical development. Youth Leaders organize regular social, educational, and spiritual oriented events with others on staff, guests and volunteers in order to maintain a vibrant program. They establish support and appropriate relationships with their youth members and their families. Youth leaders also maintain good communication in order to keep events organized.

The Youth Counsellor, under the direction of the Director of Care or designate, is part of an interdisciplinary team responsible for the delivery of care and service to youth experiencing addiction issues. The Youth Counsellor provides therapeutic, recreational and developmental programming in both individual, group as well as virtual settings. Youth leaders model a healthy lifestyle and positive relationship building. The focus of this residential experience is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness through individual plans of care. Traditional Indigenous culture and healing is a foundational basis for treatment. Participation in traditional aboriginal cultural and lands-based programming, quality improvement initiatives and continuing education is expected. Dedication to high standards of practice, adherence to organizational policies, accreditation requirements and statutory obligations is expected along with a commitment to maintaining privacy and confidentiality for the youth and the organization.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

Safety and Supervision
- Ensure accurate account of all youth staying in residence.
- Ensure all youth are being supervised at all times
- Ensure all youth feel safe and are welcomed in their environment
- Ensure all agreements and treatment plans are being followed
- Treat belongings in a respectful manner
- Administer medicine in a safe way
- Ability to deal with conflict using an indigenous approach
- Follow Nimkee Nupigawagan policies and procedures, Health & Safety, Ethics and Confidentiality policies

Program Duties
- Work directly with participants following a shift-work schedule.
- Operate and promote the culturally-based and land-based program.
- Instill a strength-based and person centered approach to inspire youth to highest potential.
- Implement consistency and a structured environment during program, exercise, field trips, and free time

Complete programs that will be enriching and empowering to all participants in the program.
Follow the program schedule, being consistent with what is offered as well as offer consequences.
Create a learning environment both academically (mentally), emotionally, spiritually and physically thus creating a balanced, healing environment that is dynamic and engaging.
Maintain a positive relationship with all participants

Overall:

- Ensure that all outcomes of the youth assessments are clearly reflected and implemented in individual plan of care and case noting prepared in a diligent manner.
- Conduct group /circle sessions as directed and supervised.
- Plan and implement workshops related to substance abuse and mental health including presentation and discussion (prevention; intervention; or training workshops)
- Promote a sense of community, safety, continuity and consistency throughout the youth’s treatment experience
- Demonstrate a genuine expression of organizational values while fulfilling all duties and functions
- Demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to handle difficult situations in an objective consistent format, modelling positive behaviour for youth
- Ensure youth files and records are up to date, and meet the standards of the Children’s

Residential License and the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation
- Participate in the preparation of aftercare and outreach treatment plans
- Complete light housekeeping duties during shifts and during shutdown and prior to intake sessions
- Participate in license reviews and accreditation processes
- Participate in professional education program for employees and ensure skills and certifications are maintained.
- Adhere to Nimkee Policies and Procedures especially Qualifications and Requirements

**Qualifications**:
Abstainer with at least two years continuous sobriety is a requirement by organizational policy.

**Education & Certification**

Post-Secondary education in Counselling or related discipline (e.g. Child and Youth Worker or equivalent qualifications)

Certified as an Addictions Counsellor by an accredited certification body an asset

Upon Hiring:

- Crisis Prevention and Intervention CPI or similar (UMAB)
- Applied Suicide Intervention Training (ASIST)
- Fire Extinguisher Handling Training
- Infection Control Training
- CPR and First Aid Certification, WHMIS Training
- Safe Food Handling Training

**Experience**
- Two years of experience wor