Support Counsellor

Support Counsellor

**Job Summary**

Reporting to the Manager of Clinical Services, the Support Counsellor is responsible for providing ongoing support to care partners of those living with dementia through individual and group counseling, education, care planning and service coordination.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities**

**Ongoing Client Support**:

- Provide intentional ongoing support and follow up to those referred by the First Link Care Navigator
- Keep an accurate and up to date client case load for active monitoring
- Continually monitor and assess needs of clients on the case load
- Refer internally or externally as necessary to address the needs of clients on the case load
- Coordinate services to address the needs of clients on the case load

**Counseling**:

- Assist with development of Counseling policies and procedures
- Provide social work services, including assessments focused on support, education and case management for individuals, families and groups affected by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias
- Provide outreach for multicultural, rural and other underserved communities
- Assess and respond to high-risk situations with potential for abuse, family violence, and suicidal behavior
- Consult and liaise with other disciplines and community partners to establish appropriate intervention plans and referrals
- Advocate for client/family’s identified needs and services within the agency and the community
- Support and promote inter-agency teamwork and collaboration
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with community partners
- Facilitate support groups
- Participate in professional and community education and research activities, including committee membership
- Adhere to OCSWSSW standards and ethics
- Maintain accurate client records in accordance with OCSWSSW standards
- Monitor, document, and evaluate social work activities and relevant literature
- Maintain and submit statistics, as required by funding agency (i.e., the LHIN)
- Conduct evaluation of practice using measurable outcomes

**Pro-active Follow-Up**:

- Provide supports to care partners as the person they support transitions through use of different parts of the health, social and residential care systems
- Monitor and provide proactive follow-up for care partners

**Service Delivery Standards and Quality Improvement**:

- Maintain confidential, accurate and current client records, including complete and thorough documentation for each client contact, in compliance with relevant privacy legislation and in accordance with professional standards and internal policies
- Ensure that client consents, privacy, and confidentiality are maintained in compliance with legislation, professional standards/regulations, and internal policies

**Monitoring/Evaluation**:

- Collect, maintain and report required quantitative and qualitative data to support province-wide monitoring, evaluation and reporting

**First Link® Learning Series**:

- Prepare and present First Link ® Learning Series as needed
- Evaluate Series for outcomes and potential for adjustment and/or improvement
- Keep relevant statistics for reporting

**Group Program Facilitation**:

- Lead group programs for family care partners of persons living with dementia
- Plan and implement program outreach and promotional events with local community dementia program service providers
- Contribute to creation, evaluation and publication of patient and/or program promotion materials
- Participate in program training, mentoring, and professional development activities

**Other**:

- Maintain and submit statistics as required
- Perform other duties consistent with the job classification, as required

**Hours of Work**
- The Support Counsellor generally completes all duties within normal business hours; however, flexibility in hours is required, with occasional evening and weekend work.
- Participation in the on-call rotation is a requirement of this position.

**Job Qualifications**

**Education**:

- A post-secondary degree in Social Work from an accredited university or a post-secondary degree or diploma in another relevant field
- Current registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or other regulatory body, if eligible

**Experience**:

- Experience working with persons living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias is preferred
- Experience in the health care and/or social service sectors is considered an asset
- Other Knowledge, Skills, Abilities or Certifications:

- Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
- Knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Knowledge and adherence to OCSWSSW Code of Ethics
- Knowledge and understanding of all pertinent legislation and policies, including the Personal Health Information and Protection Act (PHIPA, 2004)
- Ability to conduct needs and risk assessments and ability to respond in emergency situations
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