Youth and Family Counsellor, Mental Health Resource Team - BC Children's Hospital

Youth and Family Counsellor, Mental Health Resource Team

BC Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, BC

Effective December 6, 2024, as negotiated in the latest collective agreement, a classification system will be implemented for the HSPBA roles in PHSA, effectively transitioning to a profile-based system. As a result, it may have impact to this job posting’s job title, job description, and wage range.

Do you have the ability to support patients ages 5-17 with self-regulation and daily living activities? Are you able to coach parents/caregivers with positive behavioural support skills? Do you have experience facilitating child or adolescent groups? Acting as a youth care worker, BC Children's Hospital is seeking a Youth & Family Counsellor to support patients on the Child Psychiatry Unit with program and group facilitation.

The Youth and Family Counsellor (YFC) reports operationally to the Clinical Nurse Coordinator at BC Children's Hospital Mental Health and is responsible for maintaining a physically and emotionally safe therapeutic milieu, developing and facilitating groups, and providing activities and care appropriate to the child’s/youth’s stage of development. In a hospital based psychiatric assessment and 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. Drives patients to designated locations by operating the Centre’s vehicle.

Please indicate on your cover letter why you are interested in joining our team at BC Children's Mental Health! Check out our video HERE

What you’ll do

• Assess patients’ emotional and behavioural presentation, through the application of developmental theory, skills in Child and Youth Care, and trauma informed care. Communicate this assessment to the primary nurse and/or interprofessional team using appropriate methods including written documentation as per agency standards.
• Support children and youth in lifespan development activities in the context of their psychiatric disorder, through supportive counselling, strategic interventions, psychosocial development, and guidance in activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and therapeutic meal support.
• Participate and contribute 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. Implement treatment team strategies and interventions as approved by the primary nurse and interprofessional team.
• Participate in program development with consideration to patient needs and plan, initiate, implement and facilitate therapeutic and recreational group programming in a manner that fosters socialization skills, play skills, self-regulation and continued growth and development in children/youth as assigned
• In collaboration with inter-professional team members provides support and continual assessment and evaluation to adapt individual and group programming to meet changes in the milieu and patient dynamics as assigned. Communicate this assessment to the primary nurse and/or interprofessional team using appropriate methods including written documentation as per agency standards.
• Enhance family/caregivers capacity for relational development by methods of child/parent dyad interventions and psychoeducational groups.
• Assist in community integration and social skills development by acting as a role model to organize and actively participate in activities (such as recreational outings to the gym, park, and swimming facilities), driving the agency vehicle as required, and others activities as assigned.
• Drive patients to designated locations as scheduled by operating the Centre’s passenger van. Assist clients with embarking and disembarking the vehicle. Conduct inspections of vehicle by checking oil, gas and fluid levels, tire condition and ensuring that lights and signals are functioning; clean interior and exterior of vehicle after use; and maintain records of distances travelled, gas expenditures and inspections. Recommend vehicle and equipment repairs as required.

What you bring

Qualifications

• 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.
• Valid Class 4 driver’s license.
• Current CPR certification.

Skills & Knowledge

• 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.
• Expert knowledge of and demonstrated ability in engaging and supporting group processes, individuals, and the unit milieu.
• 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.

• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents – including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study – and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
Wage: $42.27 - $52.81/hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Rotating, 0700-1900, 0730-1930, 1100-2300, 1900-0700, 1930-0730, 0700-1500, 0730-1530, 0800-1600, 0830-1630
Requisition # 173847E

What we do

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

BCCH is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA and BCCH is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently marginalized groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of October 20, 2024. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.