Family Support Counsellor

Federation of Community Social Services of BC; Kelowna; Hybrid; CAD 58,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Federation of Community Social Services of BC is seeking a Family Support Counsellor to join the Family Connection Centre (FCC) in Kelowna, starting in July. You will provide mentorship to families and caregivers of children and youth with support needs, focusing on resiliency and ongoing effective care.

Role requires collaboration with multiple agencies, attendance to group sessions, and establishing family-led goals using Signs of Safety. Full-time, with some evenings/weekends expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a Social Services or Human Services discipline with a minimum of 2-years' experience.
• A diploma in a Social Services or Human Services discipline may also be considered, with extensive (minimum 3-years) experience.
• Knowledge of strengths-based family systems and attachment-based support.
• Experience working with children with support needs.
• Strong knowledge of child development, neurodiversity, ASD, FASD and complex support needs.
• Experience with CPS (Collaborative and Proactive Solutions) and Signs of Safety models.
• Ability to establish trusting relationships with children, youth, and families.
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience with substance misuse, intimate partner violence, mental health and child protection services.

Responsibilities

• Developing therapeutic relationships of trust and safety with families to support their journey through Family Connection Centre (FCC) services for their children.
• Improving parent and child / youth or sibling interactions and decreasing conflict.
• Facilitating support groups for parents / caregivers to enhance connections, provide education and promote skill development relevant to the developmental and chronological age of their children.
• Developing family-led goals for services through the Signs of Safety process.
• Working collaboratively with FCC teams and outside resources to ensure holistic care and support.
• Facilitating family connections with relevant community services and overcoming barriers to accessing supports.
• Assisting parents / caregivers with relevant applications, including housing, Disability Tax Credit.
• Assisting with transition to adult services.
• Collaborating with Developmental Specialists, Behavioural Consultants, Intake and Care Coordinators and other partners to provide comprehensive, goal-focused services.
• Implementing and maintaining required case management and records.

Skills

Strengths-based approach

Attachment-based support

Child development knowledge

Neurodiversity awareness (ASD, FASD)

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Substance misuse/violence/mentalhealth

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Services or related

Diploma in Social Services

Job description

We are now accepting applications for aFamily Support Counsellorbased out of the Family Connection Centre (FCC) in Kelowna to start in July.

Family Support Counsellors provide supportand mentorship to families and caregivers of children and youth with support needs, to develop the resiliency and capacity of the caregivers to manage their child / youth’s needs and behaviours, and their ability to provide effective care on an ongoing basis

Key responsibilities

Responsibilities:

The specific responsibilities of the position include:

• Developing therapeutic relationships of trust and safety with families to support their journey through Family Connection Centre (FCC) services for their children.
• Improving parent and child / youth or sibling interactions and decreasing conflict.
• Facilitating support groups for parents / caregivers to enhance connections, provide education and promote skill development relevant to the developmental and chronological age of their children.
• Developing family-led goals for services through the Signs of Safety process.
• Working collaboratively with FCC teams and outside resources, such as School Division 23, MCFD, CYMH, MCSS, as well as the family's natural support system to ensure holistic care and support.
• Facilitating family connections with relevantcommunity services and overcoming barriers to accessing supports.
• Assisting parents / caregivers with relevant applications, including applications for housing, Jordan’s Principal, and Disability Tax Credit.
• Assisting with transition to adult services.
• Collaborating with Developmental Specialists, Behavioural Consultants, Intake and Care Coordinators and other partners to provide comprehensive, goal-focused services relevant to the identified needs of eachfamily.
• Implementing and maintaining required case management andrecords.

Other responsibilities include:

• Building relationships and connections within the community to improve service integration.
• Appling culturally safe and agile, trauma informed, relational and person / family-centered modalities.

Qualifications (education, experience, skills)

Preferred Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in a Social Services or Human Services discipline (BSW / CYC /BA-Psychology etc.) with a minimum of 2-years' experience is desired.
• A diploma in a Social Services or Human Services discipline may also be considered, with extensive (minimum 3-years) experience.

To be successful in your role, you’ll also need:

• Knowledge and demonstrated understanding of strengths-based family systems and attachment-based support.
• Experience working with children with support needs
• Strong knowledge base in child development, neurodiversity, ASD, FASD and complex support needs.
• Strong problem-solving and collaboration skills.
• Working knowledge of the CPS(Collaborative and Proactive Solutions) model and Signs of Safety model.
• Ability to establish trusting relationships with children, youth, and families.
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience working with substance misuse, intimate partner violence, mental health and child protection services.

Other Requirements:

Given the nature of our work, please note that all shortlisted candidates:

• Need a valid BC Driver's License, regional insurance, and a reliable personal vehicle.
• Must Undergo a screening process, including a criminal record search

Hours of work (e.g., 37.5 hours per week, etc)

Full-Time, Permanent Averaging 37.5-hours per-week. Family Support Counsellors will typically work five days a week. Any additional hours must be approved by a supervisor.May include some evenings and weekends.

Compensation (wage only)

$29.75 - $ 31.25 based on relevant experience and education.