Hospice Counsellor - Masters - (222587)

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

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Victoria, Nova Scotia, is seeking a skilled professional to provide psychosocial care, conduct assessments, and evaluate services for individuals and families. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree in a counselling-related field and a minimum of two years of experience in a similar setting. Responsibilities include offering professional expertise, building therapeutic relationships, and working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of recent relevant experience.
• Specialized knowledge of psychosocial care in a Hospice Palliative Care setting.
• Understanding of strengths-based, client-centered perspective.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments and provide counselling interventions.
• Evaluate services to individuals, families, and groups.
• Offer professional expertise in psychosocial care.

Skills

Effective communication

Building rapport

Goal identification

Collaborative work

Capacity building

Cultural sensitivity

Attention to strengths and limitations

Education

Master's degree in a counselling related field

Job description

Overview

In alignment with the Mission, Vision, and Values of Victoria Hospice, the safety of patients, clients, families, and staff is a shared responsibility and a top priority. As such, the ongoing commitment to improving quality, enhancing safety, and mitigating risk is integral to every aspect of this role.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Clinical Director or designate, conducts assessments, provides counselling interventions and evaluates services to individuals, families and groups. Under the direction of the Director or designate, provides professional expertise and consultation as it relates to psychosocial care, education, quality improvement and research. Acts as a resource person by collegially sharing, demonstrating, and providing guidance regarding psychosocial care. Records appropriate client information and collects required program statistics. Maintains knowledge of and contributes to current theory and practice in Hospice Palliative Care.

Qualifications

Master's degree in a counselling related field. Minimum two years of recent relevant experience, and demonstrated specialized knowledge of providing psychosocial care in a Hospice Palliative Care setting. Demonstrated understanding of strengths based, client‑centred perspective and work within an interdisciplinary team.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to elicit the needs of individuals and families from their perspectives, incorporating their cultural and spiritual beliefs and use that understanding to enhance communication, service provision, decision making and problem solving within an interdisciplinary setting.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written reports.
• Ability to build rapport and maintain therapeutic relationships that go beyond the initial presentation of concerns to ask difficult questions and discuss sensitive topics.
• Ability to identify goals, develop care plans and evaluate outcomes in concert with individuals, families and care teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other team members and to accept and provide direction, feedback and input as necessary.
• Ability to lead Hospice Palliative Care capacity building in the community.
• Attention to personal strengths and limitations and ability to recognize when supervision or support is needed.
• Travel is a requirement of this job.
• Travel arrangements must meet the requirements of the program.