Supportive Care Counsellor, Sakura House - Full-time

VON Canada (Ontario); Woodstock; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community care organization in Woodstock is looking for a Supportive Care Counsellor to provide psychological and emotional support to clients and families. Candidates should have a Master’s degree and a minimum of 5 years’ hospice experience. Responsibilities include individual and group support, case management, and ensuring access to community resources. Offering a full-time position with a focus on compassion and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years’ experience in hospice palliative care.
• Experience working with death and dying.
• Training in spiritual direction is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provides person-centered care for clients and families.
• Completes all case notes and maintains accurate documentation.
• Advocates for clients and families within scope of practice.

Skills

Compassion

Excellent listening skills

Conflict management

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Divinity, Theology or related field

Certification in Thanatology or Grief and Loss

Job description

Requisition Details

Employment Status: Regular, Full-time (1.0 FTE)

Program Name: Sakura House

Number of Hours Bi-Weekly: 75

Work Schedule: Days, Evenings, Weekends

On Call: No

Existing Vacancy: Yes - we\'re currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position.

Job Summary

The Supportive Care Counsellor provides psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support to clients, families and caregivers/significant others by performing standardized holistic clinical assessment and intervention.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides person-centered care; ensuring shared care team is aware of need for and meaning of a person-centered approach for clients, families and caregivers.
• Provides individual, partner, family and group support therapies, health education, case management, community rehabilitation and development for clients as necessary.
• Provides counseling to clients and families in areas not limited to: dealing with issues of death and dying, existential questions about meaning and purpose, spiritual distress, legacy work and culturally-based needs, self-esteem, dignity, adaptation to the illness and its consequences, social functioning, advocacy issues, funeral planning, financial, legal, relationships, communication, spiritual well-being, grief and loss.
• Connects, coordinates, advocates, educates and supports access to community resources,additional service needs for clients and families, providing information and guidance.
• Supports access to spiritual companioning, and bereavement services.
• Completes all case notes, maintaining up-to-date files at all times, and keeping accuratedocumentation and statistics.
• Assists and facilitates coordinated care planning for clients and families, includingcoordination of practical needs as necessary.
• Assists in the planning, development and leading of the annual Memorial Service.
• Advocates for clients and families and intervene within scope of practice on client and family\'sbehalf.
• Meets with clients, families and caregivers in a setting most appropriate (i.e. home, office,other).
• Acts as an ad hoc resource and support for the care team and with their own self-care andneeds, as HPC providers.
• Documents, tracks and prioritizes care requests to ensure all clients/families receive timelyresponse, including follow-up calls to clients and/or families to ensure care needs are beingand have been met.
• Provides for a culture of sharing, openness, education and mentoring to other team membersincluding health providers, students and volunteers.
• Provides ongoing education, as required, to various organizations and in the community, inorder to support the care of persons who are dying, their caregivers and families, includingafter-death.
• Participates in Hospice Team Meetings and supportive care counsellor committee.
• Other duties as assigned.

Common Responsibilities

• Promotes the goals and values of VON and their role as an integrated community care provider.
• Promotes a safe and healthy workplace ensuring workplace conduct and activities are in accordance with the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulationsand compliant with the VON Safety Management System, including all Policies, Safe Work Practices and Procedures.
• Abides by all VON policies and work practices.
• Abides by all confidentiality and protection of personal information policies, regulations and practices and ensures appropriate safeguards are in place within their role.
• Works in collaboration with other staff in a team approach to service delivery.

External and Internal Relationships

• Works closely with the Hospice Palliative and Bereavement Coordinators in the provision ofsupportive group programming and individualized programs.
• Works with clients, families’ caregivers and community in the need identification and deliveryof psychosocial, grief, loss and bereavement education.

Education, Designations and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Divinity, Theology, Counseling, Psychology or other relatedfield.
• Additional Certification in Thanatology, Grief and Loss, Bereavement or equivalent.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in hospice palliative care.
• Affiliation with related organization or governing body preferred.
• Experience working with death and dying.
• Training in spiritual direction through a recognized theological college an asset.
• Knowledge of a variety of recognized researchers/authors, theories and modalities in palliativecare.

Skill Requirements

• Demonstrates compassion, empathy, integrity, respect, courtesy and a caring attitude in allinteractions
• Proven ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Excellent listening and assessment skills
• Computer proficiency and accuracy for all documentation and record keeping, paying attentionto detail
• Provide mentorship and guidance in a preceptor and leadership role
• Flexible and supportive to Team needs
• Other skills include conflict management and problem solving skills where issues may besensitive
• Adheres to all standards, practices, policies and procedures regarding privacy andconfidentiality of information, and ethical practices as set forth by employer and regulatingCollege

Other

• Must have a personal vehicle and possess both a current driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance.
• A current and original copy of a satisfactory Criminal Records Check is required.
• A Vulnerable Sector Search and/or a Child Abuse Registry Check may be required.
• Be a part of the 24/7 on-call team coverage rotation.
• Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Working conditions

This role requires a detail-oriented approach in a dynamic environment, with physical activity including lifting, carrying (using proper techniques), bending, reaching, kneeling, and other movements that emphasize good body mechanics. Individuals in the role are required to walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs throughout the day, with some tasks requiring fine hand movements.