Child & Youth Care 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 now accepting applications for a Child and Youth Care Counsellor to work in the South Okanagan location.

The Child and Youth Care Counsellor will provide outreach support to children and youth with support needs (referred by MCFD-CYSN), to increase their independence through significant life transitions by improving their daily functioning in their home, school and community.

While this position is based out of Penticton, services are provided on an outreach basis throughout the South Okanagan (Summerland to Osoyoos BC).

Hours / Schedule:

• Full-Time, Permanent - 35 hours per week.
• Service hours will be delivered on a flexible basis, including some evening and weekend hours as necessary to best support the needs of the clients and program.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will:

• Use an individualized, goal-focused approach to improving the child/youth’s independence.
• Build strong, supportive relationships with the child or youth and (when appropriate) with their family / caregivers.
• Provide skills and mentorship to improve the child/youth’s development and functioning in activities of daily living, such as social skills, life skills, healthy living and behaviour.
• Improve community engagement by facilitating the child/youth’s participation in recreational activities, community events and other hobbies or interests.
• Provide group-based training and support.
• Create individualized service plans based on the youth’s assessed strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.
• Demonstrate a high level of collaboration and cooperation with MCFD and other involved service providers.
• Work closely with the Program Director to support best practices and effective service provision.
• Implement and maintain required case management and clinical records.

Other responsibilities include:

• Providing culturally safe and agile, trauma informed services.
• Applying an attachment-based and developmental practice lens.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Educational requirements:

• A BSW or a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (Child and Youth Care / Psychology etc.) is strongly preferred.
• Candidates with a diploma in a Social Services discipline, with a minimum of 3-years experience directly related to working with Child and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) clients, may be considered.

Candidates must possess a valid Driver's License, and a sound personal vehicle to provide outreach support, and transportation for families when required.

Successful applicants will be subject to a screening process, including a criminal record search.

To be successful in your role, you'll also need:

• Have previous experience as a child and youth worker.
• Be well-versed in child development, developmental delays, neurodiversity, ASD, FASD and other complex support needs.
• Be familiar with Positive Behaviour Support Plans and using behaviour intervention strategies.
• Have experience providing group-based services to children, youth and/or adults.
• Have family counselling and parent education experience.
• Have experience working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Apply an attachment-based, trauma-informed practice lens.

Other Requirements:

• 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 per hour, based on relevant experience and education.

Upon successful completion of a probationary period, full-time employees (minimum 20-hrs per week) are eligible for a full benefit package (including dental plan, vision coverage, life insurance, extended medical coverage, long-term disability plan, and RRSP or TFSA contributions)

New full-time employees are eligible for 3-weeks paid vacation to start, as well as paid sick days as described in agency policy.

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 and lean into diverse perspectives, encouraging all voices to be heard and honoring the wisdom of Metaptmumk - 'all-around seeing,' a multidimensional way of knowing, doing and being that reinforces positive, reciprocal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, while decolonizing western knowledge and supporting an intersectional lens to cultivate warm, reciprocal relationship - 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.