Family Counsellor

**JOB OPPORTUNITY: Family Counsellor**

**Download PDF Job Posting Here**

**Family Counsellor **Competition #57-22

**DO YOU WANT A MEANINGFUL CAREER, HELPING OTHERS? JOIN US**

About the Role

At Family Services of Greater Vancouver, we’ve been helping people in crisis since 1928. As a non-profit, we help people develop skills and knowledge, empowering our neighbours to create positive change in their lives. Our team is made up of more than 420 staff, including expert counsellors and support workers who provide compassionate, client-centered care to youth experiencing homelessness, families and children impacted by trauma, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable people from an evidence-based, trauma-informed lens. We believe in building a brighter future for all British Columbians and providing a supportive and inclusive workplace for all our staff.

Provide counselling, parent-education and support to families and children (0- 12 years) referred by MCFD and to provide linkage between the family, the community, MCFD and other professional services.

What we offer you:
**Benefits of working with us**:
Flexible scheduling

Starting at three weeks’ vacation for full time staff (pro-rated for part-time) and growing to more +

Three (3) paid household leave days a year

One paid Wellness Day a year

Paid sick days

Two and a half paid Agency days for full time staff (pro-rated for part-time)

Five paid days for education leave/year (pro-rated for part-time)

One paid Moving Day/year

Subsidized professional association annual dues (if applicable)

Possibility of remote work/ hybrid work

A work culture that values transparency, teamwork, learning, fairness and integrity

**Health and Welfare benefits**:
Generous group health/dental benefits after 3 months.

Three flex options for health/dental coverage depending on the coverage you need

Option of psychological/counselling services (up to $1500/year)

Employee Assistance Plan

Long Term Disability Plan

Group Life Insurance, Travel insurance, ++

**Pension**: Pension plan enrollment after 12 months

**Work Hours**: 24.5 hours per week (Part Time)

**Salary**: GS12B $41,226.64 annually

**Location**: Work in the culturally diverse cities of Surrey, Delta and Langley.

**Posting End Date**:Posting will remain open until filled

What you bring:

- Knowledge of child welfare policies and procedures.
- An understanding of integrated case management/wrap around services delivery.
- Working knowledge of different parenting strategies and the ability to share these strategies with families.
- In-depth knowledge of child abuse dynamics.
- Excellent crisis intervention skills
- Excellent verbal (including telephone and in-person) and written communication skills (including the ability to write assessment reports).
- Ability to work with families who may present with multiple service needs related to poverty, addictions, violence, child abuse or neglect, attachment and mental health issues who are from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
- Competence in a window PC environment including MS WORD and EXCEL.

**Education, Training, Experience**
- Family counsellors will have a minimum of a Masters degree in a social science (e.g. MSW/MA/MEd in counselling psychology) and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of 3 years experience working with children ages 0 - 12 years

**Knowledge, Skills, Abilities**

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Family Counsellor is responsible for:
**Counselling**:
Conduct assessments of the needs, dynamics and functioning of families.
- Develop goals with the family, and redevelop those goals as necessary.
- Develop and implement a counselling service, support and intervention plan in collaboration with the family and MCFD.
- Provide service in the family home, at the PPFS office or in the community as appropriate.
- Arrange integrated case meetings and participate in meetings in collaboration with the family.
- Connect children and parents to the appropriate supports and services.
- Advocate for the child and/or family, particularly in regard to housing, health, basic needs or schooling.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of services delivered to the child or family.
- Observe interaction between parent and child in their home environment during key times of the day, e.g.: mornings, mealtimes, bedtime. Coach, model and educate using various therapeutic parenting models and psycho-education.
- Provide information on child development, nutrition, safety, discipline, and home management.
- Also address concrete needs dependent on family needs, as required.

**Consultation, Referral and Education**:

- Liaise as appropriate with other agencies/professionals for purposes of consultation, referral and advocacy, in order to ensure that clients receive comprehensive service.
- Testify in court when required.

**Case management/ Record-Keeping**:

- Maintain case records as part of client files, includin