Family Counsellor

Job Description:

The Counsellor is responsible for providing newcomer youth and their parents or guardians with proactive counselling that will assist them in dealing with some of the psychological, cultural, and environmental factors that are having a negative impact on their settlement, adaptation, and integration process. Factors that not only affect the settlement of youth and their families, but also play a large role in their future in Canada in terms of their mental health, academic success, and integration into Canadian society. This position will report directly to the Coordinator of Youth Settlement Services.

The Counsellor plays a supportive role with the newcomer family, completing a comprehensive assessment of the issues and identifying problem-solving strategies on adolescent matters, anger management, anxiety and depression, behavioural problems, bullying, parenting skills, divorce and separation, domestic violence, emotional problems, self-confidence, trauma, etc.

The specific duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Proactive visits with families.
• Individual counselling, referral, and follow-up with newcomers around psychological and family issues.
• Facilitating group therapy sessions, orientation sessions, and workshops for newcomer families.
• Liaising with social service and community organizations around mental health and family issues and, where practical, forming community partnerships to assist newcomers.
• Developing and facilitating youth/parent circles that will help participants increase their support networks.

Supporting the Youth Settlement team and other settlement staff in the fulfillment of their responsibilities by:

• Providing information regarding clients’ settlement process as requested
• Participating in youth groups and or projects.
• Delivering monthly reports and keeping clients’ files up to date using centralized database and other reporting tools.
• Attending and participating in staff meetings and professional development sessions where time permits.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in counselling, social work, or psychology
• Membership in related professional association
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (oral & written)
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Computer proficiency
• Team player, as well as demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, and with minimum supervision

Other Qualifications:

• Experience working with immigrants and/or in other cross-cultural circumstances
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset
• Valid Driver’s licence