Integrated Child and Youth Clinical Counsellor (ICY-CC)

About Qualicum School District

Qualicum School District is centrally situated on east Vancouver Island and covers the area of Nanoose Bay to Bowser and spans from Errington across the Strait of Georgia to Lasqueti Island. We serve a student population of approximately 4700 students. Qualicum School District consists of eight elementary schools (Grades K-7), two secondary schools (Grade 8-12), an alternate school (PASS/Woodwinds) and a Distributed Learning program to support home-learning families called the Collaborative Education Alternative Program (CEAP). False Bay School on Lasqueti Island is entirely off-grid with an immense solar project recently completed. Qualicum School District also embraces many community organizations through various school programs. The area’s natural beauty, never-ending beaches, mild climate and small-town charm make it a popular tourist destination and a great opportunity to have a career in paradise.

POSITION VACANCY: Integrated Child and Youth Clinical Counsellor (ICY-CC)

Under A Pathway to Hope, the Province is implementing Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams in school district communities. This began in the fall of 2021, in five school district communities which are now operational. As announced in February 2023, ICY teams will now be implemented in additional school district communities, including the Qualicum School District. The Province has committed to implementing ICY teams in 20 communities across B.C. by 2024/25.

These multidisciplinary teams deliver wraparound mental health and substance use services and supports for children and youth (birth to 19) and their families. The service delivery will be flexible and outbound, reflecting the preferences of children, youth, and families. Each ICY team will support a cluster of Public, Independent and First Nations-operated schools and will include all children and youth within the geographic region.

ICY teams will be created through existing positions in the region and new positions where they do not currently exist. Core team positions include Integrated Care Coordinators (ICC), Integrated Child and Youth (school-based) Clinical Counsellors (ICY-CC), Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) Clinicians, Youth Substance Use workers, Indigenous Support workers, Administrative Assistants, and Youth and Family Peer Support workers.

Our District

Centrally located on Vancouver Island on Coast Salish Territory within the territories of the Nanoose (Snaw'naw'as) First Nation and Qualicum First Nation, the Qualicum School District serves a population of approximately 4700 students and 750 staff. The region exemplifies the best of Vancouver Island living, with ideal coastal climate, ocean and forests close at hand, and desirable small-town lifestyle while still enjoying convenient city access.

The Position

Reporting and accountable to the xxx (school district senior admin role), the primary responsibilities of this position are to work as part of the multi-disciplinary, multi-jurisdictional integrated child and youth team to provide therapeutic counselling services and school liaison support for children, youth and families experiencing mild/moderate mental health needs, and to manage and oversee the Youth Peer Support Worker position.

This role includes outreach work with the community to support a cluster of Public, Independent and First Nations operated schools within the geographic region.

This role is required to be available to perform time-sensitive work outside of regular (9-5) working hours as required, e.g., emergency counselling to children and youth and their families.

This role does not follow the school calendar and works 12 months of the year.

Specific Responsibilities Include:
Support the ICY team and schools served to mitigate and address factors which may precipitate mental health and substance use challenges for children and youth.

Provide child/youth and family therapeutic counselling through a lens of intervention and/or prevention support. Monitor the progress of child/youth on their case load.

Perform the functions of a manager of employees in the Youth Peer Support Worker positions as a part of the ICY teams including:

Responsible for recruitment, selection and hiring of school-based employees assigned to the portfolio within the program

Provide orientation, coaching, training and mentoring to direct reports

Manage employee conduct related matters including conduct employee relations related investigations with the human resources department, issues discipline and discharge of the employee when necessary

Manage employee attendance including informal and formal discussions with employees when absenteeism is continuously impacting service delivery; provides consideration to all applicable leave of absence requests

Manage employees including routine informal performance feedback, the development of employee work plans, and conduct staff performance review and related development plans reviews.

Interpret and comply with applicable collective agreements, participate in the grievance and arbitration process, and consult with human resources to provide feedback on collective bargaining initiatives necessary to support to the program and community

Manage assigned budget including staffing budgets allocated to the portfolio

Liaise between school staff and the ICY team, to represent and advocate for the needs of all children and youth (birth to 18) within the geographic area with a focus on prevention/early intervention wherever possible.

Provide support for the Youth Peer Support Worker to participate as a core ICY team member.

Attend and actively participate in integrated child and youth team meetings.

Provide oversight and supervision of the Youth Peer Support Worker to provide peer-based mentoring and emotional support to youth ages 12-19 with the following:

to support systems navigation and resource distribution to youth;

in facilitating or co-facilitating groups for children, youth and families as needed;

to encourage membership in the school community.

As needed and as appropriate, attend school-base team meetings, partner and community agency meetings.

Facilitate multi-disciplinary, multi-jurisdictional team decision making through a consensus building process.

Deliver workshops and ongoing training to families, district staff and community agencies as determined by the ICY team.

Lead counselling groups for children, youth and families as needed.

Cultivate a collegial atmosphere with case supervision and case consultation.

Work in collaboration with school and school district counsellors.

Consult with and coordinate support services from outside agencies when needed (e.g., community services, RCMP).

Qualifications

Education & Professional Certification:
Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Psychology or a related field and must include a 300-hour supervised practicum or equivalent. Preference may be given to a candidate with school-based practicum experience.

Must be a Registered Clinical Counsellor and meet educational and training criteria to be a member of the BC Association of Clinical counsellors (BCACC) or a Registered Clinical Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW).

Experience:
Preferred minimum of 3-5 years of experience working with families, children, and youth in a clinical counselling setting.

Experience in clinical and/or educational interventions with children, adolescents, and families (including crisis intervention).

Experience leading and managing employees including hiring, coaching and mentoring, performance and attendance management, and applying corrective discipline preferably in an unionized environment.

Recent training and successful experience in mental health initiatives and suicide prevention.

Demonstrated knowledge and experience liaising between community partners.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
In-depth knowledge of the psychosocial development of children and youth.

Ability to abide by ethical principles and act with integrity, accountability, and judgment in the best interests of the child/youth, families, and available services.

Ability to maintain professional currency and have strong knowledge and experience in counselling including substance use/addictions, harm reduction philosophy, principles and practices, mental health/mental illness, and concurrent and co-occurring disorders.

Knowledge of population-specific mental health and substance use care, including: Ethno-culturally diverse and racialized communities, gender questioning/gender fluid youth, child/youth with disabilities or diverse abilities with behavioural diagnoses, neurodevelopmental disorders, or intellectual disabilities with co-occurring mental health needs.

Demonstrated cultural agility to work respectfully, knowledgeably, and effectively with Indigenous peoples with an understanding of Indigenous worldviews and approaches to healing.

Knowledge of social determinants of health, health inequalities and intersectional analyses.

Demonstrated ability provide collaborative leadership with child/youth, teachers, families, administrators, and community agencies within a multi-disciplinary, multi-jurisdictional team environment.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion when sharing sensitive information to individuals on a need-to-know basis.

Highly effective organizational skills and proven ability to prioritize work while simultaneously meeting the needs of a diverse caseload

The salary range for this position is $95,506-$119,382 and includes a comprehensive benefits package. The successful candidate’s placement on the range will be subject to qualifications and experience.

Please submit your application package via Make a Future . Emailed applications will not be considered. This competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Applications received prior to noon on October 28, 2024, using the above link, will be sure to receive consideration. Your application package should include a brief cover letter, a resume that summarizes related experiences, and up to five confidential reference contacts. Reference letters will be considered but are not expected. Questions regarding the position and the upcoming process may be directed to Gillian Wilson, Associate Superintendent, at gwilson@sd69.bc.ca. We appreciate all interest in these positions. Only those selected for further interviews will be contacted by the District.