Youth Counsellor

Please note this is a temporary position, covering a leave of absence that is estimated to last until the incumbent returns.

Applicants must be authorized to work in Canada and at our organization on an ongoing basis.

The John Howard Society of North Island is an employment equity employer.

This position is open to applicants of all genders.

This position requires union membership and the completion of two criminal record checks.
- Job Title: _Youth Counsellor - Full Time Attendance Programs (FTAP)
- Work Site: _Beech Street
- Program: _Full-Time Attendance Programs
- JJEP Benchmark: _Adult, Youth and/or Child Counsellor
- Grid Level: _Grid_ _14 Paraprofessional
- Reports to: _Program Manager

**Summary**:
The Youth Counsellor - FTAP provides primary supervisory and support services to the youths participating in the Full-Time Attendance Programs. Responsible for organizing and monitoring youths’ individualized day programming.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
To perform the job successfully the Youth Counsellor - FTAP must be able to perform consistently each essential duty satisfactorily. Other related duties may be assigned.
- Builds and maintains a positive supportive relationship with youth in the program
- Participates fully as a member of the case management team for each youth placement
- Develops and implement intervention plans within program guidelines in consultation with other members of the case management team
- Provides individual and/or group programming aimed at addressing youth issues/needs such as communication skills, anger management, conflict resolution, and problem solving
- Provides youth with opportunities to access community resources as required
- Facilitates the self-development and skill development of youth by identifying, recruiting and developing appropriate resources, and supporting youth participation in developmental activities, i.e. life skills, work placement, academic study, community services
- Provides direct intervention with the youth when required
- Assists in personal hygiene and basic care
- Responsible for ongoing contact and liaison with probation officers who are involved with the youth
- Facilitates open communication within the case management team
- Contributes to regular reporting procedures, including ongoing case notes, incident reports, monthly progress summaries, and exit reports
- Attends meetings as required by John Howard and the Ministry of Children and Families
- Represents John Howard in the community when required by the agency and the Ministry
- Participates in managing/balancing on-site petty cash and youth work budgets

**Qualifications**:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

**Education and Experiences**:

- Post-Secondary degree in counselling, child care work or a related field.
- First Aid training is required..
- Driving is required to attend meetings and to enable contact with youth/families at home or in the community. The worker must have a valid driver's licence and access to safe, reliable transportation, and must obtain appropriate insurance as per Society policy.
- A minimum of two years’ experience working with high-risk youth in a counselling or other helping capacity required, which should include:
**Counselling Skills**:

- Experience counselling adolescents.
- Ability and willingness to be trained in treatment issues
- Experience with life skills/job skills programming an asset
- Understanding of addiction and other abuse issues, and current treatment models
- Solid understanding of human services ethics with regard to confidentiality and appropriate boundaries
- Ability to maintain a calm professional approach in crisis situations

**Case Management Skills**:

- Demonstrated ability working constructively and cooperatively in a team setting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge and experience with case recording practices

**Other Skills and Abilities**:
Counsellor must:

- Demonstrate a level of cultural sensitivity and understanding of the client population’s socio-economic characteristics.
- Have the ability to form mutually respectful partnerships with persons served, their families, and their caregivers in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
- Have the ability to work with any client that is referred and accept the differences they will find among their clients.
- Have the ability to work with values and behaviours that are very different from those of the employee.
- Ensure that personal values and beliefs are not insinuated, promoted, or imposed on the clients.
- Accept clients’ rights to self-determination and individuality, and must not discriminate on the basis of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, socio-economic status, marital status, family status, physica