Youth and Family Counsellor, Pediatric Acute Medical Unit Standard JD

Job Summary
In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Youth and Family Counsellor reports operationally to the Program Manager or designate and is responsible for upholding a safe therapeutic environment in the acute care unit, developing and facilitating groups, and providing activities and care appropriate to the child's/youth's stage of development. In a hospital based acute medical treatment program, the Youth and Family Counsellor works collaboratively as part of an interprofessional team within an evidence-based Trauma Informed model of care, to support all aspects of therapeutic care of patients with behavioural, emotional, and psychiatric problems and their families/caregivers. The Youth and Family Counsellor provides supportive counselling, and psychosocial assessment, including working with families/caregivers in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures.

Duties/Accountabilities

• Assesses patients' emotional and behavioural presentation, through the application of developmental theory, skills in Child and Youth Care, and trauma informed care. Communicates this assessment to the primary nurse and/or interprofessional team using appropriate methods including written documentation as per agency standards.
• Supports children and youth in lifespan development activities through supportive counselling, strategic interventions, psychosocial development, and guidance in activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and therapeutic meal support.
• Participates and contributes to patient care plan development, treatment strategies and intervention development with the assigned primary nurse and the interprofessional team by methods such as reviewing patient progress, discussing potential changes with team, and adjusting care strategies accordingly. Implements treatment team strategies and interventions as approved by the primary nurse and interprofessional team.
• Participates in program development with consideration to patient needs and plans, initiates, implements and facilitates therapeutic programming in a manner that fosters socialization skills, play skills, self-regulation and continued growth and development in children/youth as assigned.
• Enhances family/caregivers capacity for relational development by methods of child/parent dyad interventions and psychoeducational groups.
• Collects and documents pertinent patient information related to patient admission, progress notes, weekend pass outcomes and transition planning as required. Participates in patient and family/caregivers meetings, rounds and case conferences as required.
• Maintains a physically and emotionally safe environment for all patients by assessing and identifying the need for intervention in crisis situations through a trauma informed lens. Implements actions and documents according to established crisis management policies and procedures of the organization.
• Provides support and education to families/caregivers in the context of their child's/youth's psychosocial development and through supportive counselling and strategic interventions. This may include participation in family education/support/ multi-family therapeutic groups as well as assisting individual family members/caregivers to support their child's/youth's treatment care plan through role modelling, encouragement, and teaching.
• Supports the child/youth in the learning environment in collaboration with the school program and in accordance with the established classroom guidelines. Use established care plan strategies and interventions to provide emotional and academic encouragement. This may include supporting transitions from hospital classroom to the community classroom.
• Attends and participates in in-service education programs as requested in order to maintain a standard of knowledge relevant to assigned program areas. Attends mandatory education sessions Attends mandatory education sessions such as CPR, the Mandt System, and fire safety.
• Utilizes and maintains equipment and supplies within departmental guidelines and budgetary resources.
• Provides meal support to patients and trains caregivers to do so. Assists the patients with coping strategies while providing meal support
• Participates in quality improvement activities including reporting unsafe situations and reports as per provincial and organization's policies and procedures.
• Provides guidance, support and supervision to students and volunteers.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of special events and in the organization of entertainment for patients and families.
• Works in collaboration with other hospital departments such as Foundation, Volunteer Resources, and Community Relations to meet the needs of patients and families.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education, Training and Experience

• Baccalaureate in Child and Youth Care, or a Baccalaureate of Arts with a Major in Psychology or Clinical Counselling, that includes course content relevant to Child and Youth Mental Health such as Infant, Child, and Adolescent Development, Fundamentals of Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Group and Family Processes.
• Two (2) years' recent related experience working in a child and youth setting.
• Group planning and facilitation for children with Mental Health challenges and/or developmental difficulties.
• Current CPR certification.

Skills And Abilities

• Broad knowledge of the normal growth and development of children and youth
• Basic knowledge of mental health disorders in children and youth.
• Broad knowledge of Trauma Informed Care including Collaborative Problem Solving.
• Broad Knowledge of Attachment and Self Regulation Theory and Strategies.
• Broad knowledge of and demonstrated ability in recognizing and managing transference and counter-transference.
• Demonstrated initiative in providing and participating in age appropriate activities.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, adjust to new or unexpected events, and to deal effectively with conflict situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work.
• Demonstrated ability to apply computer skills and operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.