Child & Youth Counsellor, Relief

**JOB OPPORTUNITY - Child & Youth Counsellor (CYC) - Relief**

**Position Summary**

The Child & Youth Counsellor is responsible for providing a therapeutic and safe environment for the children and youth in Youthdale’s programs on a day-to-day basis. A member of an inter-professional team, the Child & Youth Counsellor is responsible for carrying a primary care caseload.

Reporting to the Clinical Operations Manager, the Child & Youth Counsellor, is responsible for ensuring a therapeutic and safe environment on a day-to-day basis. Assessment and milieu therapy is provided in accordance with individual client treatment plans, evidence based practices, Youthdale’s policies and procedures and guidelines established by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOH).

**Department**:Inpatient Units

**Location**: 227 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON

**Status**: Relief

**Union/Non**: This is a unionized position

**Rate of pay**: $25.3433 per hour

We are hiring for multiple openings in this role, which includes new and replacement positions.

**Accountability**

This position reports directly to: Clinical Operations Manager

Supervises: Child and Youth Work students

Works collaboratively with the inter-professional team, client families/guardians, and community resources

**Corporate Responsibilities**
- Fosters positive interpersonal relationships with the staff, clients, visitors, outside agencies, government officials and related professional associations.
- Maintains and adheres to organizational policies and procedures.
- Maintains and adheres to all relevant legislation.
- Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
- Works safely in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Agency Health and Safety Manual.
- Demonstrates clinical practices, which are consistent with the mission, vision and philosophy of Youthdale Treatment Centres.

**Responsibilities**:

- Assesses and understands client mental health needs through a developmental and trauma informed lens and formulates methods of intervention in collaboration with the team.
- Implements specific treatment interventions as indicated in the client’s individual treatment program including: individual counseling and group therapy; recognizing the stages of behavioural escalation and responding in a clinically appropriate manner to deescalate the behaviour; developing strategies to reduce the clients concerning behaviours, and supporting academic/vocational activities.
- Carries out the structure and routine of the program and ensure all clients receive a high standard of care and therapeutic intervention.
- Facilitates debriefing with clients following crisis/physical intervention
- Assists with normal activities of daily living; recognizing physical signs and symptoms of health conditions, report concerns to nurse and/or physician as per program procedures; providing an assessment of a client in accordance to the Plan of Care goals; providing behaviour support.
- Writes clients progress reports and ensure that client records are maintained, as per agency standards and in accordance with privacy policies and legislation.
- Responsible at shift change for communicating verbally as well as in the written log any significant and pertinent information regarding each client.
- Develops, implements, evaluates and fully participates in life skills and recreational programming.
- Following successful completion of the Medication Training Program, administers regular scheduled medications and treatments, as prescribed by a physician or Nurse Practioner, and in accordance with the Youthdale’s Medication Procedure**.**

Medications, including orders from General Practioners and Nurse Practioners, are reviewed at Live-in Treatment admission by Youthdale physicians, and updated as needed
- As a Primary Counselor responsible for establishing a therapeutic relationship with assigned client(s) from intake to discharge, including direct client care and supervision of the following:

- Welcome and orientation to the physical space and program at admission, and anything else at intake
- Provision of individual care as per the treatment plan, developing and supporting their engagement in programs
- Booking annual health care, clothing and personal needs inventories and arranging purchases as required
- Supporting the client to express their needs
- Reporting progress and identifying concerns at shift change and/or inter-professional meetings
- Supporting the client’s preparations for transition and discharge as per the agreed plan including connecting with community resources, completion of discharge documentation
- Maintains clinical records and documents in accordance with Youthdale and program policies and processes, such as:
- Data collection related to specific individual programs
- Complete Progress Notes in client clinical file
- Conference reports on individual client