Cedarbrae & Interdependent Living Services - Relief

Hull Services has an organizational commitment to pursuing truth and reconciliation, decolonization and anti-oppression._

**About Us**:
Hull Services has long had a reputation for providing leading edge child, youth, and family mental health services. We work with children, youth and families who have experienced mental health struggles, behavioural problems, developmental delay, neglect, abuse and trauma. Hull offers them an opportunity to seek well-being and happiness, with a focus on mental health. Hull’s vision is for resilient young people and families to thrive within communities that support their mental health and well-being. Hull’s programs and services include prevention and early intervention, family-based treatment, school-based services, community group care, campus-based care, adult services and education and training. Located in Calgary, we have been serving Alberta’s young people and families for 60 years, and support over 7,000 young people and families each year.

**The Programs**:
Cedarbrae is a six bed group home that provides treatment to developmentally delayed adolescents aged 14 to 17, both male and female, with borderline cognitive functioning, social competency deficits, and mental health and behavioural challenges. Our goal is to help youth acquire independent living skills and social skills for transitioning into adult life.

Interdependent Living Services (ILS) is a community based independent living skills program. Typically, the individuals receiving services have complex needs that include social competency deficits, developmental delay, mental health and emotional/behavioural problems. The goals of the program are to help individuals increase their adaptive skills to achieve greater independence. The program provides a graduated system of independence and flexible supports based on developmental, emotional, and mental health needs. Supports can be increased or reduced based on youth needs.

**The Position**:
Relief Child and Youth Care Counsellors are integral members of our therapeutic campus based programs and community group homes. They participate in all facets of program life and are responsible for our youths’ daily care, treatment, health, nurturance, and supervision.

We are looking for **Relief Child and Youth Care Counsellors** with weekday and weekend availability (shifts are generally 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.).

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Attend to the physical safety, esteem and developmental needs of our young people.
- Supervise, organize and implement daily living activities as well as recreational activities and see these as opportunities for educational and therapeutic interventions.
- Use routines and activities to give children and youth security and enable them to relate to others in socially acceptable ways; help the youth understand the need for routines and procedures.
- Provide meaningful and responsible role modelling, as well as direct teaching in areas of grooming, hygiene, dress, nutrition and social manners.
- Identify and act on goal-related teaching opportunities; use systematic plans of instruction, appropriate teaching methods and approaches to transfer information and skills.
- Select and make appropriate use of behavioural interventions and strategies.
- Communicate rules and behavioural limits and follow through on appropriate behavioural interventions.
- Improve the quality of life for our young people by attending to their physical environment.
- Monitor and work directly with youth in all aspects of their lives, i.e., liaise with parents and community groups.
- Promote and safeguard the rights, interests and treatment of the people we serve by interceding on their behalf.
- Act as an avenue of recourse or grievance for the youth and represent his/her interests.
- In working with children, youth, parents/guardians, co-workers, other professionals and the public, demonstrate appropriate conduct in terms of behaviour, appearance, and presentation and adhere to Agency expectations with regard to confidentiality.
- Attend to team responsibilities in terms of participation, communication, and demonstrating a positive attitude.
- Model socially acceptable values, e.g., integrity, fairness, and respect.
- Participate in professional development activities.

**Qualifications and Skills**:

- Degree or diploma in Child Studies, Human Services or Social Sciences preferred (or currently enrolled).
- Experience in congregate care or group homes (preferred).
- High level of personal competence in the formation and maintenance of caring and therapeutic relationships.
- Ability to engage children, youth and families in the treatment process.
- Demonstrated interest, commitment, consistency, and a high level of personal maturity and responsibility.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Cross-cultural competence; knowledge of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission a