Supportive Care Counsellor #2

Requisition Details:

Employment Status: Temporary, Part Time (0.5 FTE)
Program Name: Hospice Program
Number of Hours Bi-Weekly: 37.5
Anticipated End Date: 03/31/2021
Work Schedule: Days, Evenings, includes Weekends
On Call: No

Job Summary:

The Supportive Care Counsellor provides psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support to those dying and to their families and caregivers/significant others by performing standardized holistic clinical assessment and intervention.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides person-centered care; ensuring shared care team is aware of need for and meaning of a person-centered approach for clients, families and caregivers during the illness phase through to bereavement.
• Provides individual, partner, family and group support therapies as necessary.
• Provides counseling to clients and families in areas not limited to: dealing with issues of death and dying, existential questions about meaning and purpose, spiritual distress, legacy work and culturally-based needs, self-esteem, dignity, adaptation to the illness and its consequences, social functioning, advocacy issues, funeral planning, financial, legal, relationships, communication, spiritual well-being, grief and loss.
• Connects, coordinates, advocates, educates and supports access to community resources, additional service needs for clients and families, providing information and guidance.
• Supports access to spiritual companioning, and bereavement services.
• Completes all case notes, maintaining up-to-date files at all times, and keeping accurate documentation and statistics.
• Assists and facilitates coordinated care planning for clients and families, including coordination of practical needs as necessary.
• Assists in the planning, development and leading of the annual Memorial Service.
• Advocates for clients and families and intervene within scope of practice on client and family’s behalf.
• Meets with clients, families and caregivers in a setting most appropriate (i.e. home, office, other).
• Acts as an ad hoc resource and support for the care team and with their own self-care and needs, as HPC providers.
• Documents, tracks and prioritizes care requests to ensure all clients/families receive timely response, including follow-up calls to clients and/or families to ensure care needs are being and have been met.
• Provides for a culture of sharing, openness, education and mentoring to other team members including health providers, students and volunteers.
• Provides ongoing education, as required, to various organizations and in the community, in order to support the care of persons who are dying, their caregivers and families, including after-death.
• Participates in Hospice Team Meetings and supportive care counsellor committee.
• Other duties as assigned.

External and Internal Relationships:

• Works closely with the Hospice Palliative and Bereavement Coordinators in the provision of supportive group programming and individualized programs.
• Works with clients, families’ caregivers and community in the need identification and delivery of psychosocial, grief, loss and bereavement education.

Education, Designations and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Divinity, Theology, Counseling, Psychology or other related field.
• Additional Certification in Thanatology, Grief and Loss, Bereavement or equivalent.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in hospice palliative care.
• Affiliation with related organization or governing body preferred.
• Experience working with death and dying.
• Training in spiritual direction through a recognized theological college an asset.
• Knowledge of a variety of recognized researchers/authors, theories and modalities in palliative care.

Skill Requirements:

• Demonstrates compassion, empathy, integrity, respect, courtesy and a caring attitude in all interactions
• Proven ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Excellent listening and assessment skills
• Computer proficiency and accuracy for all documentation and record keeping, paying attention to detail
• Provide mentorship and guidance in a preceptor and leadership role
• Flexible and supportive to Team needs
• Other skills include conflict management and problem solving skills where issues may be sensitive
• Adheres to all standards, practices, policies and procedures regarding privacy and confidentiality of information, and ethical practices as set forth by employer and regulating College

Other:

• Must have a personal vehicle and possess both a current driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance.
• A current and original copy of a satisfactory Criminal Records Check is required.
• A Vulnerable Sector Search and/or a Child Abuse Registry Check may be required.

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Attention to detail; Lift and carry using appropriate lifting techniques; Bend, push, pull, grip, reach, kneel, crouch using good body mechanics; Walk, sit, stand, climb stairs; Hand movements

VON Canada is committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and to providing accessibility accommodations for candidates who require them. If you are in need of accessibility support, please visit our website at http://www.von.ca/en/accessibility for further details.