Child & Youth Counsellor - Mental Health Crisis Team - (223184)

Island Health; Victoria; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health authority in Nova Scotia seeks a Child & Youth Counsellor to provide care for children and youth undergoing mental health crises. The role involves developing stabilization care plans, delivering evidence-based interventions, and coordinating care with community programs for effective discharge planning. Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree in Child/Youth Care and three years of relevant experience. Familiarity with mental health legislation and a valid Class 5 BC Driver's License are also required.

Qualifications

• 3 years of recent experience in mental health assessment and treatment of Children/Youth.
• Knowledge of DSM IV diagnoses, Mental Health Act, Hospital Act, Child, Family and Community Service Act.
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Provide care in the Pediatric Unit for children and youth in crisis.
• Develop stabilization care plans in collaboration with pediatric staff.
• Liaise and coordinate care with community programs for discharge planning.

Skills

Conduct age-appropriate mental health assessment

Crisis intervention and stabilization

Effective communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelors Degree in Child/Youth Care or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office applications

Electronic health records

Job description

In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at VIHA; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Under the direction of the Program Coordinator or designate and in collaboration with other health professionals, both internal and external, the Child & Youth Counsellor (CYC) provides care in the Pediatric Unit for children and youth experiencing mental health crisis or acute psychiatric illness building capacity support to the Pediatric Staff involved in their care. Using a trauma-informed approach the CYC develops and supports the pediatric staff to develop and carry out stabilization care plans, provides evidence-based brief therapeutic interventions within the context of crisis stabilization, provides individual and family crisis counseling, liaises and coordinates care with community programs for discharge planning and assists in the constant supervision of admitted MH patients. The CYC also collaborates with the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team to provide brief follow-up services for children and youth discharged from hospital.

Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in Child/Youth Care or other discipline related to mental health, plus three (3) years recent related experience in the assessment and treatment of Children/Youth with psychiatric/mental health concerns. A working knowledge of DSM IV diagnoses and related treatments, the Mental Health Act, the Hospital Act and the Child, Family and Community Service Act. Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License.

Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to conduct age-appropriate mental health assessment, including risk to self/others and mental status.
• Ability to apply crisis intervention and stabilization principles.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure, in high-acuity situations.
• Demonstrated ability in establishing therapeutic relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with a variety of internal and external contacts, including co-workers, physicians, community agency representatives, patients/clients, and families/ significant others.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently apply effective and respectful communication skills, including active-listening, problem-solving, respectful limit setting, and reframing.
• Practice within the concepts of Patient/Family Centred Care, Trauma Informed Care, Collaborative Problem Solving and Motivational Interviewing.
• Ability to contribute to a safe work environment including utilizing the least restrictive de-escalation skills.
• Ability to organize work and the demands of the shift and work effectively and efficiently under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to use a computer and software, such as various Microsoft Office applications, electronic health records, etc.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.