Clinical Child & Youth Mental Health Counsellor

The Child & Youth Mental Health Counsellor is responsible for providing clinical mental health support to promote mental health among child and youth community members between the ages of 4 and 18. The counsellor plays a pivotal role in helping adolescents navigate the complex challenges they face, fostering their emotional well-being, resilience, and personal growth. By offering a safe and supportive environment, they empower youths to explore and address their mental health concerns, develop coping strategies, and build healthier relationships. Their dedication to promoting mental health awareness and destigmatizing mental illness contributes to creating a community where young people feel valued, understood, and supported on their journey toward mental wellness.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts intakes, completes case histories and formulates assessments with child and youth clients and their families to inform therapeutic goals and treatment approaches including family-based interventions, using a person-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed approach.
• Provision of direct clinical care and assessment to children and adolescents with mild to moderate mental health challenges through individual and group interventions.
• Supports child and youth program participants with more significant mental health challenges, particularly in relation to substance use, to attend residential treatment programs.
• Create and nurture a safe therapeutic environment, providing therapeutic interventions appropriate the the child or adolescent’s development.
• Engage parents, guardians, educators and other adults involved in a child or youth’s circle of care by providing psychoeducation to support the integration of therapeutic interventions on issues such as parent-child communication, child development, discipline and guidance and behaviour management.
• Provides information on and referral to other community service providers, resources and professionals as required
• Maintains program equipment and supplies related to the play, art and cultural components of the program.
• Attends team meetings and multidisciplinary meetings, case conferences and clinical superivion as required.
• Attends related education programs and workshops in order to maintain a high standard of knowledge and respond to client needs.
• Maintains program documentation as per agency and accreditation standards/requirements.
• Maintains accurate and confidential case management files.
• Provides monthly reports to the Director of Health and/or the Manager of Mental Wellness on departmental progress in the above areas.
• Participates actively as a SFN representative in collaborative partner networks and in related community activities.
• Participates in SFN sponsored community events.

Ideal Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or nursing, be a Registered Clinical Counsellor, or Psychologist, or an equivalent combination of education & experience.
• Additional training and/or certification in therapeutic modalities specific to child and youth counselling including play therapy, art therapy, drama therapy and creative arts therapy.
• 2-3 years experience working in child and youth mental health, particularly in an Indigenous community.
• Valid BC Driver’s License.
• Ability to pass a Criminal Records Check.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A comprehensive knowledge of the broad range of mental health related challenges commonly experienced by First Nations children, adolescents and their families
• Demonstrated therapeutic skills and abilities to integrate theory and practice in the areas of case management and individual, group and family therapy with clients experiencing a range of mental health challenges.
• Evidenced knowledge and application of trauma-informed and culturally appropriate principles of care.
• Ability to work effectively with others in an interprofessional team, including understanding the scope of other professions, as well as a demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Ability to make effective referrals, reflecting in depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with community partners, particularly in relation to education and child welfare systems.
• Ability to manage crisis situations through the application of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to respond to multi demands, conflict resolutions, and problem solving on a continuous basis in a professional manner, showing understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, and respect to others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated respect for confidentiality and adherence to associated policies.

Work Conditions

• Office work is performed primarily between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
• Work takes place at the Saulteau Health Centre (Moberly Lake), Saulteau Health Clinic (Chetwynd) and on site at community partners (Saulteau Youth Centre, Elementary and High Schools, etc.)
• Some evenings and weekends may be necessary.

Open until filled