Youth Justice 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 are excited to be expanding our team to help us accelerate our impact!

We're Hiring!

arc programs is currently accepting applications to fill a temporary Youth Justice Counsellor (YJC), to join the Boundaries Program, located in Kelowna, BC.

The Boundaries Program provides intensive individual support to youth who have been convicted of a serious offence. Services are provided in partnership with Youth Probation and Youth Forensics Psychiatric Services (YFPS). Youth are mandated to participate in either the Boundaries Full-Time Attendance Program (FTAP) or Outreach Services. Youth admitted to the FTAP live in a family-based therapeutic care home, while youth receiving Outreach Services are provided with similar support while remaining in their current home.

The Youth Justice Counsellor is responsible for providing skilled behaviour intervention, counselling, case management, and crisis response to high-risk young offenders; and will support youth to implement specific treatment goals and address criminogenic factors during their participation in the Program.

In addition, an essential part of this position is engaging youth in a variety of recreational and community-based activities. Applicants must be prepared to participate in activities that reflect the interests of the youth and enhance the youth’s pro-social skills and connection with community.

Hours / Schedule:

• Full-Time / Temporary
• 40-hours per week

Service hours will be delivered on a flexible basis including evening and weekend hours as necessary to support the needs of the youth, caregivers and program.

Please be aware that YJC will cooperate with the Program Director to provide after-hour crisis intervention support on an on-call basis.

Responsibilities:

The core responsibilities of this position include:

• Conducting intake, assessment and service planning activities.
• Assisting with the implementation of identified service goals.
• Monitoring youth compliance with probation conditions.
• Providing individual counselling, support and encouragement to assist youth in overcoming personal challenges, and to reduce criminogenic factors.
• Providing supervision, behaviour intervention and crisis management.
• Promoting youth participation in day programs which support a healthy lifestyle, and the development of life-skills, adaptive functioning, and executive functioning skills.
• Supporting youth engagement and success in school and / or employment.
• Liaising with MCFD Youth Probation and YFPS staff, as well as other services providers to facilitate the coordination and integration of services.
• Cooperating with Program Caregivers to support the youth, and to navigate challenging situations in the homes.
• Participating in service planning / case management meetings.

Other responsibilities include:

• Maintaining youth records and complying with case management reporting requirements.
• Applying a culturally safe and agile, trauma informed practice lens.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in a Social Services or Human Services discipline (i.e.: BSW, CYC, BA in Psychology etc.) with a minimum of 2-years relevant experience is preferred.
• Candidates with a diploma in a relevant discipline (i.e.: Human Service Worker / Child and Youth Care), and position-specific experience may be considered.

Other Skills and Attributes:

• Able to establish trusting relationships with youth and their families.
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience working with caregivers and/or families in a therapeutic role.
• Understanding of relevant treatment modalities such as Collaborative and Proactive Solutions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the youth justice system is an asset.

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 per hour, based on relevant experience and education.

Upon successful completion of a trial period, this position is 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) 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 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 West Kootenay regions. We also acknowledge the Métis peoples and the Inuit who reside in these regions.