Clinical Counsellor

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

**About Covenant House Vancouver**:
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

**The Impact A Clinical Counsellor In The Case Management Department Can Make**:
The Clinical Counsellor works as part of an interdisciplinary team to deliver services to youth experiencing complex mental health and substance use issues. The Clinical Counsellor collaborates closely with other professionals both within Covenant House Vancouver and in the community to ensure that youth receive the care they deserve.

**How You Will Contribute**:

- Provide clinical counselling services to youth in one to one and group settings
- Responsible for intake and coordination of counselling services to youth accessing services
- Conduct initial mental status exams and comprehensive psychosocial assessment
- Monitor the mental health and wellness of youth while in Covenant House’s care
- Provide brief and ongoing therapeutic services, including regular mental status exams
- Serve a mental health triage role for youth experiencing mental health and substance use issues
- Maintain files and ensure documentation is valid, legal and up to date and in accordance with professional standards and requirements of the regulatory body
- Liaise with community services/agencies and work collaboratively with these services
- Liaise with the Mental Health Team(s) and work collaboratively with these teams
- Respond to crisis situations and provide guidance to other staff on how to manage youth with mental health issues
- Participate in case conferences, case management and team meetings as needed
- Co-facilitate a weekly Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills group and manage a case load of individual DBT clients as part of an interdisciplinary DBT team
- Together with other Clinical Counsellors, provide and/or coordinate ongoing professional development workshops to program departments as necessary
- Identify and participate in external clinical supervision as determined by the governing body?
- Manage the collection of client statistical information ensuring data is accurate and complete?
- Responsible for direct implementation of, and adherence to, Covenant House philosophy, policy and procedures?
- Attend intra-agency and program related meetings as required?
- Enter data into the Efforts to Outcome Database (ETO)?
- Perform other related duties, as required?

**Who We Are Looking For?**:
**Education and Experience**:

- Master’s Degree (minimum) in Counselling Psychology, Art Therapy or equivalent.
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC or CCC) designation
- Additional registration as an art therapist (RCAT or BCATR) considered an asset
- 3+ years of experience in a clinical setting as a Clinical Counsellor, Concurrent Disorders Counsellor, or Art Therapist is preferred

**Skills & Abilities**:

- Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care and Harm Reduction Principles, and the needs of this specialized population of youth
- Knowledge of adolescent development and issues related to youth homelessness.
- Awareness of issues facing homeless youth, particularly those who are “street homeless” and/or addressing acute and/or chronic mental health and substance use concerns
- Awareness of issues facing culturally diverse populations?and the ability to work sensitively with these issues
- Skills and experience providing consultation and/or training in mental health and substance use issues
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral
- Excellent decision making, problem solving, and analytical skills
- Basic computer literacy skills, including Microsoft and Teams
- Ability to work independently and exercise a considerable degree of independent judgment and discretion. Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and self-directed working style
- Willingness to work a flexible work schedule that accommodates the needs and schedules of homeless youth?
- A commitment to self-reflective practice and a commitment to personal wellbeing

**Why Work For Us? Would You Like To**:

- Be part of a team that makes a difference to the lives of young people in need
- Have generous Health & Dental Benefits, including generous counselling benefits ($4,000 per year to ensure you are looking after you), and employee assistance program, great vacation and personal leave
- Access ongoing training and de