Child and Youth Counsellor- 1 Fte-contract Until September 2026

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The Child and Youth Counselor is responsible for service delivery to children, youth and families. This is in accordance with the WOCRC Vision, Mission, Guiding Beliefs and the Health Equity and Inclusion lens. The Child and Youth Counselor is responsible for in house and outreach services delivered to the diverse needs of children and youth and families in the Goulbourn, Kanata, and West Carleton communities.

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre operates under the following guiding beliefs:
Empowerment

Equity

Partnership

Innovation

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Provide Direct Service
- Provide initial contact to all new child and youth counseling clients of the WOCRC, establish rapport, assist in identifying needs and provide information about services;
- Provide crisis intervention services through telephone contacts and on a walk-in basis;
- Provide brief intervention counselling;
- Provide short term counselling using evidence based techniques.
- Connect clients with appropriate internal and community resources;
- Assist clients in accessing desired services. May include facilitating concrete services such as child care, transportation, etc;
- Assess level of risk and provide follow-up as required;
- Facilitate education and support groups as required.

Advocate on behalf of clients
- Participate in advocacy and coordination committees about services available, gaps in services, and issues affecting individuals, couples and families;
- Promote participation of clients and community in general, in activities designed to educate and/or advocate for prevention.

Participate in community education concerning social issues and services
- Act as a consultant to colleagues, agencies and the community regarding crisis services in the Ottawa area;
- Respond to community requests for information;
- Present to community groups;
- Participate as a staff member in public relations and fundraising events, as requested.

Ensure coordination of policy and service
- Participate as a direct intervention team member at internal and external meetings;
- Advocate for coordinated planning of services;
- Establish and maintain links with community groups and agencies to facilitate referrals and positive working relationships;
- Coordinate inter-agency referrals.

Serve as a staff resource for training and development
- Offer in-service training to colleagues;
- Provide training to community groups;
- Provide support and training to students as required;
- Provide support and training to volunteers as required.

Ensure evaluation of service
- Participate in WOCRC evaluation processes;
- Prepare and maintain all necessary documentation and statistics related to crisis intake activities on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

Other

All WOCRC employees have some fundamental responsibilities that go beyond the confines of their occupations. These include:

- Ensuring that the commitment to diversity is understood and respected.
- Working in a manner that incorporates health promotion and recognizes the determinants of health
- Maintaining up-to-date professional skills and knowledge through formal and informal training;
- Acting as an “ambassador” for WOCRC within and outside the Centre by creating an awareness of WOCRC programs and promoting services offered;
- Compliance with all mandated legal/regulatory requirements related to working at WOCRC ( Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety, standards of professional conduct);
- Maintaining awareness of and compliance with WOCRC policies and procedures;
- Maintaining awareness of and compliance with funder requirements, policies,
- procedures and regulations;
- Working in a manner that preserves confidentiality and seeks to minimize risk in keeping with Privacy and Confidentiality Policies and Procedures.
- Supporting the Centre’s student and volunteer placement programs.
- Working during both regular and extended hours of operation in locations identified by the Centre.
- Perform other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
- Child and Youth Care Practitioner and a minimum of 2 years direct work experience with children, youth and families; or a university degree in a related field with 5 years’ experience
- Registration with the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care
- Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of community-based model of intervention, and health equity principles;
- Demonstrated knowledge of counselling techniques for children, youth and families
- Experience in working with learning disabilities and exceptionalities.
- Knowledge and experience with education and therapeutic-based group models;
- Demonstrated crisis intervention and counseling skills;
- Demonstrated group facilitation skills;
- Demonstrated assessment skills;
- Strong communication skills;
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with other children and youth serving agencies;
- Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act;
- Proven conflic