Youth Services Counsellor

Who We Are:

arc programs exists to create thriving communities, free of systemic barriers and full of belonging, equity, and hope. We have a bold vision to ensure everyone in our communities feels connected and cared for, and we are excited to be expanding our team to help us accelerate our impact!

We're Hiring!

We are currently accepting applications for a Youth Services Counsellor to temporarily join our team at our Kelowna location. This temporary appointment is anticipated to be approximately six months in duration.

The Youth Service Counsellor will provide individual support and counselling services for high-risk youth who are disenfranchised from family and community supports.

The Counsellor will provide individual support to youth who are assessed as eligible for a Youth Agreement with the Ministry for Children and Family Development to live independently. The counselor may provide individual support and case management/service coordination services for sexually exploited

Hours / Schedule:

• Full-Time, Temporary
• 38-hours per-week

Responsibilities:

The specific responsibilities of the position include:

• Providing screening/comprehensive assessment / service planning interviews with referred youth, and their families.
• Providing screening/comprehensive assessment / service planning interviews with referred youth, and their families.
• Working collaboratively with MCFD Youth Services staff to assess the eligibility of referred youth to enter into a Youth Agreement.
• Assisting eligible youth and MCFD staff to develop a Youth Agreement; and cooperate to develop and implement an integrated service plan which will address the youth’s barriers to achieving independence.
• Assisting youth to secure and maintain safe, affordable, and appropriate housing.
• Monitoring the youth’s compliance with the residency expectations of their Youth Agreement.
• Providing individual support and counseling services to sexually exploited youth, to assist them in addressing barriers to exiting the sex trade or reducing the harm associated with sexual exploitation.
• Providing support, orientation, and encouragement to youth to engage in needed community services, as per the Youth Agreement and ISP.
• Providing interim support services to youth awaiting a needed community service, or services which the youth need but does not meet the criteria to access.
• Providing hands-on independent living and life skills training and support to youth, on an individual or group basis.
• Providing parent-teen mediation for referred youth.
• Providing counselling and encouragement to youth to support the development of a healthy lifestyle and work collaboratively with referred youth to set goals, develop plans, and engage in services, to address personal barriers to improving their functioning in the community.
• Leading and engaging youth in recreational activities with program participants, as appropriate.
• Participating in client service planning and review - Integrated Case Management team conferences.
• Writing client intake reports (assessment/interpretive summary, ISP’s, letter re brief service, etc.), program transition/discharge reports, and other case administrative procedures as per program guidelines and time frames.
• Liaising with MCFD staff and other community service providers to facilitate the coordination and integration of services for program participants.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Candidates for this position will possess sufficient training and experience to perform all responsibilities of the job description. The qualifications of the position are consistent with those of a practitioner in the child and youth care field, consisting of a minimum of one of the following:

• BA - CYC and related experience.
• BSW and related experience.
• BA and 2 years related experience.
• CYC Certificate or equivalent and 3 years related experience.
• 4 years combination of professional specific training and related experience.

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.

Wage / Benefits:

$ 27.00 - $ 30.50 based on relevant experience and education.

Upon successful completion of a trial period, this position may be eligible for a full benefit package (if the successful applicant works 20 hours or more consistently) (including dental plan, vision coverage, life insurance, extended medical coverage, long-term disability plan, and RRSP or TFSA contributions); as well as accrued vacation and sick time at 5.8% - above BC Employment Standards!

Why we’re an employer of choice!

Like most in the social services sector, arc programs is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and ensure everyone on the team demonstrates cultural safety and sensitivity of all populations we serve.

But we believe there’s more to our work culture that promotes high levels of employee satisfaction and retention…

We are inclusive.

We use an anti-oppressive lens to inform our work with folx of all cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, religions, and other oppressions to enhance our approach to equality.

We are ever-evolving.

We recruit and retain highly skilled staff and support their development through training, education, research, best practices, and innovation.

We foster a culture of continuous learning, utilizing a two-eyed seeing approach – incorporating the strengths of western knowledge and Indigenous Knowledge: ways of knowing, doing and being – while engaging meaningfully with the provincial community social services sector, Indigenous communities, and agencies.

Discover more about our agency services and work culture at arcprograms.com.

If you feel a connection to our values and work, we’d love to hear from you!

Click the “Apply for This Job” Button.

We appreciate your interest, but kindly note that due to the high number of applications we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We acknowledge that arc programs is situated in the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Syilx peoples in the Okanagan and the Secwe̓pemc, Ktunaxa and Sinixt people in the West Kootenay region. We also acknowledge the Métis and Inuit peoples who reside on the various traditional territories across BC.