Family Counsellor

Are you a passionate & seasoned mental health & addictions professional who is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children, youth, & families? Are you ready to structure your healthcare career in a way that enhances your lifestyle? Imagine being in a role that has such a profound community impact, while being backed by a supportive employer - at AHS we recognize how vital our people are to doing the work that we do, & so we offer comprehensive & competitive total rewards packages which empower our people to prioritize, cultivate, & optimize their own physical & mental wellbeing. This Family Counsellor position holds a key role within the Youth Community Support Program - a cross-ministry initiative which aims to provide a step-down service for youth (ages 10-17) & their families who are exiting acute inpatient mental health settings or formal treatment environments. As part of this team, you will have a role in assisting children & adolescents reach their goal of healthy family relationship & successful independent living. This role offers a unique opportunity to flex your honed counselling skills while making a lasting impact in the lives of youths in need, as you will work with them over a longer term - averaging 18 to 24 months. Some of the main responsibilities in this role include providing: direct care for children, adolescents, & their families within the Program, including assessments and group/individual treatment; intervention and support for the planning, implementation, and management of their mental health; comprehensive clinical services that may include assessment, therapy, appropriate referral to other resources, and liaison with hospital and community services; system-based assessment and family therapy treatment; case management and coordination of therapeutic services for program clients and their families.

As a Family Counsellor, you will provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up to clients and their families. You will also provide clinical focused consultation with other programs or community resources and acts as a liaison to develop and promote preventative health programs in the community. You will collaborate with other health care providers and community service providers to ensure a continuum of care in the community.

Completion of master's degree in a health related field. Active or eligible for registration with the applicable Alberta regulatory college.

Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Social Work (clinical specialization with authorization to conduct psychosocial interventions) or Nursing (with training & experience in mental health assessment & provision of psychotherapy). Must have formal clinical training & knowledge in Child & Adolescent Mental Health. A minimum 5 years within the last 7 years of experience in community mental health setting providing MH (Mental Health) treatment to children, youth & their families who have complex mental health issues with associated cognitive, behavioral & developmental delays/disorders. Experience providing expert clinical consultation to professionals. Knowledge of community resources for children & adolescents. Ability to manage a varied caseload & complete work in a timely manner. Must have family therapy skills, supplemented by strong communication & interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively & contribute positively to change in emerging services/programs. Ability to work from a patient & family centered perspective within diverse populations. Training & understanding of DSM-IV-TR diagnoses; previous experience working with trauma. Ability to handle crisis & stressful situations in a calm facilitative manner. Flexibility is required for practice within an evolving continuum of care.

Experience working with Child & Family Services, Disability Services (FSCD), schools & other health partnership initiatives, multicultural groups, program development & community resources for children & adolescents is preferred. Preference will be given to those with knowledge, skill, & experience in eating disorders & DBT.