Youth Counsellor, Integrated Youth Services

**START DATE**:As soon as possible
**REPORTS TO**: Coordinator, Annex

**Summary of Responsibilities**:
Under the supervision of the Coordinator, the Youth Counsellor provides a range of services varying from prevention to intervention in a variety of community and office settings. The Youth Counsellor supports youth in identifying, understanding, and overcoming personal/family problems, and in establishing and achieving realistic goals. Building relationships and working with other service providers is an important aspect of the job.

The Counsellor must be prepared to work with youth who are in crisis situations. Due to the availability and needs of the youth, work often must be conducted outside normal office hours.

**Job Duties**:

- Participates as a constructive and integral member of the Youth and Family Counselling Team, including attendance and participation at team meetings, team consultation, collaborative information sharing and commitment/participation to lifelong learning and training.
- Provides one-to-one and group counselling services.
- Provides crisis intervention services.
- Provides outreach services in the community.
- Establishes goals to develop and implement individual care plans with the participation of youth.
- Assists youth to stabilize in the family home or in an independent living situation.
- Works with youth to develop supports within the family or community and makes referrals as needed.
- Provides life skills training, assistance, and support to youth in areas of social and interpersonal skill development, educational engagement, and employment.
- Maintains a thorough knowledge of community resources.
- Provides liaison, education, and advocacy on behalf of youth with other professionals, agencies, and the community.
- Provides support to adjudicated youth in collaboration with the Youth Probation Officer and the School District Day Program as appropriate.
- Provides follow-up and support to youth upon leaving the program.
- Participates in the evaluation of programs and the collection of data.
- Maintains up-to-date confidential records and provides progress reports to the Coordinator, ensuring that all required documentation is complete.
- Performs other related duties as required.

**Requirements**:

- Clear Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector).
- B.S.W. or B.A. in relevant social science plus one year’s experience working with youth and/or families.
- Knowledge of relevant counselling, assessment techniques and therapies used with youth and parents (including peer counselling).
- Knowledge of adolescent development.
- Knowledge of relevant government legislation and policy.
- Knowledge in areas such as drug and alcohol abuse prevention/intervention, suicide prevention, and child protection.
- Good organizational and time management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Personal maturity and sound judgment.
- Flexible, self-motivated team player that values lifelong learning and team participation.
- A clear driver’s abstract and use of a reliable vehicle insured for business use ($2 million liability).

First Aid and CPR certification.

**ADDITIONAL ASSETS**
- Experience in assessment and documentation preferred.
- CPI Training or willingness to obtain within 6 months.

**Note**:
This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week) salary position ($52,650 to start), with group benefits at six months, pension after one year, three weeks paid vacation leave in first year, paid sick and personal leave, birthday off and up to 5 days statutory holiday substitution days per year to celebrate/recognize religious, cultural, and/or personal days that are important to the employee where those days are not currently recognized as statutory holidays in BC/Canada).

As it connects to our organizational core values, BGC encourages staff to show up as their best selves, including mutual respect, integrity, and accountability.