Clinical Counsellor, Foundations Program
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.
Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impacts us in varying degrees.
While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self-awareness and self-care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair.
We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.
The Impact a Clinical Counsellor with our Case Management Department can make:
As a Clinical Counsellor in our Foundations Program, you will provide client care to youth exhibiting mental health issues within at Covenant House Vancouver. This position will collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, educational resources and other related professionals in the community. The VCH Program is a residential stabilization program where we work with the principles of immediacy, sanctuary, value communication, structure, and choice. You will demonstrate absolute respect and unconditional love to youth that will support them to know their worth.
The VCH Program is a safe and non-judgmental environment where youth are supported to address every aspect of wellbeing – health, emotional, and spiritual. You will provide services from an attachment-based, harm reduction, culturally relevant, trauma-informed model of care. You will have the opportunity to build transformative relationship with youth and reduce the risks of street homelessness and substance use. Through relentless engagement, the CHV continuum of care connects with youth where they are at because we feel it should be “one size fits one” when it comes to supporting young people.
How you will contribute:
- Be responsible for direct implementation of, and adherence to, Covenant House philosophy, policy and procedures
- Maintain files and ensure documentation is valid, legal and up to date and is accordance with professional standards and requirements of the regulatory body
- Provide clinical counselling services to youth in stabilization beds in one to one and group settings
- Work in collaboration with the larger mental health team, coordinate intake and service provision of youth accessing CHV Stabilization Beds
- Provide an initial mental status exam and comprehensive assessment to determine a youth’s mental health functioning and capacity to engage in supportive counselling services
- Provide a gate keeping and screening role for youth with mental health issues
- Provide psycho/social assessments
- Monitor mental status of youth while in Covenant House’s care and provide brief and ongoing therapeutic services
- Liaise with community services/agencies and works collaboratively with these services
- Liaise with the Mental Health Team(s) and works collaboratively with these teams
- Responds to crisis situations and provides guidance to other staff on how to manage youth with mental health issues
- Participate in case review meetings, case consultations, case management and team meetings as needed
- Work together with other agency staff, provide and/or coordinate ongoing professional development training/reflective practice discussions 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 – ensure data is accurate and complete
- Attend intra-agency and program related meetings as required
- Enter data into the Efforts to Outcome Database (ETO)
- Performs other related duties, as required
Who We Are Looking For?
Education and Experience:
- Master’s Degree (minimum) in Counselling/Psychology, Clinical Social Work or equivalent.
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC or CCC) and/or Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW)
- 3 years of experience in a clinical setting as a Clinical Counsellor and/or Concurrent Disorder Clinician
- Experience working with youth experiencing substance use disorder and/or misuse
Competencies:
- Working knowledge of the DSM V
- Sound knowledge of Substance Use Disorders, substance misuse and concurrent disorders.
- Sound understanding and experience of working with trauma and within a Trauma-Informed Practice framework
- Sound knowledge of crisis intervention and theory
- Sound knowledge of community resources pertaining to homeless use, substance use, harm reduction and trauma
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Sound knowledge of assessment, counseling and case management.
- Demonstrated training and experience treating individuals with substance misuse concerns, particularly youth.
- Awareness of issues facing culturally diverse populations
- Awareness of issues facing homeless youth, particularly those who are “street homeless” and/or addressing acute mental health concerns
- Working knowledge of integrated case management
- Willingness to work a flexible work schedule that accommodates the needs and schedules of homeless youth
Compensation
The successful candidate can expect a starting annual salary of between $58,640.40 and $73,291.40 depending on factors such as internal equity, experience, competencies, and education. Once hired, the salaries are reviewed annually following the annual performance review and successful employees have the opportunity for their salary to increase, over time, up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $87,960.60.
Total Rewards
This position has flexible working arrangements with a hybrid in office expectation; excellent extended health and dental benefits for you and your spouse & children, including generous counselling benefits. During the first year, employees receive three weeks’ paid vacation, increasing to four in the second year; we have paid sick and personal leave and a matching Registered Pension Plan, investment in professional development, and more. If you’d like more information on what we offer, please ask!
We have been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2024!
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions.
CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
- Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
- Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities;
- Persons who identify as women;
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and
- Indigenous persons.
We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.
We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement. If you are looking to join a place where we have a purpose and aim to achieve positive outcomes, please join us by applying.
If our recruitment process does not work for you, let us know. Let’s see how we can work together to get to know you and see what might be a great fit!