Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction 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 Clinical Counsellor reports operationally to the Program Manager or designate and for practice general supervision to the Practice Leader, Clinical Counselling, and provides individual, family and group counselling services to the designated program area. As either a member of an interprofessional team or providing consultation services, the Clinical Counsellor provides assessment, and treatment utilizing a variety of therapeutic techniques, plans, develops, delivers treatment plans, and promotes health literacy to evaluate and support community-based education concerning the designated program area.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Plans, designs, and delivers individual and various modalities of group counselling to patients by identifying patients’ goals and expectations and learning needs, assisting with understanding of health issues, teaching coping strategies, consulting with colleagues when required, and supporting patient population.

2.    Performs intakes, assessments, treatment planning, crisis intervention, consultations, counselling, group therapy and psychoeducation.

3.    Works within a harm reduction model of care, conducts individual and group counselling sessions designed to increase client awareness of patient population’s related issues and enhance positive motivation for change.

4.    Maintains confidential patient files and documentation of  telephone and in-person contacts with community providers/patients

5.    Consults with a variety of health care, social services and other providers, both hospital and community-based, on a wide range of clinical issues pertaining to the management of patient population and service delivery issues including providing information based upon theory/practice, discussing client care issues and developing linkages/partnerships with other facilities, agencies, and support groups.

6.    Collaborates with other members of the interdisciplinary team, in the formulation of treatment and discharge plans. Makes recommendations for forwarding to referral sources in order to ensure continuity of care.

7.    Ensures appropriate educational and informational resources are developed for the program area by initiating the planning, coordination, and evaluation of resources to ensure alignment with the goals and objectives of the program, and problem solves any aspect of the process through being conversant in using a variety of teaching modalities including videoconferencing.

8.    Engages in program evaluation and quality improvement by participating in establishing program goals and objectives, collaborating to develop quality indicators and measurement tools, identifying opportunities for change, assessing available resources, analyzing outcomes, and formulating recommendations for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery

9.    Develops and maintains relationships with community care providers and aids client access to other resources at BC Women’s and/or BC Children’s or in the community by providing information and referrals to relevant programs and services.

10.    Provides information and/or in-service knowledge sessions to health care professionals and colleagues by performing duties such as demonstrating skills, and explaining scope of practice and counselling concepts.

11.    Initiates and participates in program sponsored interdisciplinary research by identifying current trends/gaps in the literature, conducting research; including disseminating, presenting and publishing findings, and ensuring clinical practices and protocols are consistent with current research findings.

12.    Attends regular team meetings; participates in relevant and related hospital and community based committees, activities and projects related to designated program area.

13.    Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Master’s Degree in a health related discipline such as Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology or a related health discipline from a recognized program at an accredited educational institution.
•    Specific training and certification applicable to program area and patient population or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
•    Two (2) years of recent related work experience in community and/or hospital organizations that includes experience working with the designated client population, including experience in planning, coordinating and evaluating within a multi-disciplinary team setting; educating and training using a variety of teaching modalities, and facilitating or co-facilitating support groups.
•    Eligible for membership and registration in the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.

Skills and Abilities

•    Demonstrated knowledge and skill working with the designated client population.
•    Demonstrated broad skills in counselling, clinical assessment and report writing.
•    Demonstrated ability to engage in individual and group therapy sessions alone and as a co-facilitator.
•    Demonstrated ability to develop, coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate education/training or discussion groups on a wide range of health topics for this client population.
•    Ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels of the organization and with partners in other health centres and community agencies across the Province.
•    Demonstrated sensitivity, confidentiality, and commitment to trauma informed and patient and family-centred care
•    Demonstrated facilitation, mediation and conflict resolution techniques and demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to design and develop health-care resources for a variety of audiences.  
•    Ability to undertake the background research and facilitate the planning of projects, research proposals and reports.
•    Demonstrated ability to understand the provincial context as it pertains to service delivery and policy issues.  
•    Knowledge of Indigenous cultural safety, to provide health care services that are equitable, respectful and safe.
•    Ability to undertake the background research and facilitate the planning of projects, research proposals and reports.
•    Considerable knowledge of community health agencies in British Columbia and available services
•    Fluency in the necessary language(s) required for program area’s patient population, both verbally and in writing.
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
•    Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and resolve conflicts.
•    Demonstrated ability to organize/prioritize work.
•    Ability to operate related equipment.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
•    Demonstrated skills in CPR techniques.