Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada Looking for Counsellor at St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Full Time

Do you want to work for a health care organization that changes people’s lives? One that not only cares deeply about clients, but also values its employees are its greatest asset?

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada is a unique health services organization that serves people who are blind or partially sighted across the country. Our certified specialists provide training that empowers clients to develop or to restore activities of daily living skills, to promote their independence, to enhance safety and mobility. We work closely with ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other health care professionals, by providing essential care on a referral basis in homes, workplaces, and communities across the country.

We offer competitive salaries and benefits, flexible schedules, and opportunities to grow.

For more information about Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, please visit visionlossrehab.ca or call 1-844-887-8572.

Position Title: Counsellor

Location: St. John’s, NL

Term: Full-time, Contract

Reports To: Provincial Manager, Services and Operations

Date: 24th August, 2023

I. Scope And Summary Of Primary Responsibilities

This position is focused on the provision of counselling intervention to clients accessing Vision Loss Rehabilitation Services. The role requires the ability to demonstrate professional ethics and practices expected of a counsellor, while offering a service that is responsive, confidential, client centred, and focused on adjusting to vision loss.

The role is positioned to enable clients to work towards and receive service provision offered by Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. Where necessary, external referrals to other agencies are actioned.

II. Essential Functions

The position entails, but is not limited to the following general responsibilities:

• Provides high quality, professional, and confidential adjustment to vision loss counselling services to individuals with vision loss.
• Conducts an initial assessment or case history collection to establish counseling services that would be helpful to the client in their adjustment to vision loss
• Provides information, advice, and guidance to ensure that clients continue to be supported throughout their sight loss journey
• Where the client is a youth, works with parents to determine their specific needs related to their family situation and support required for the youth and caregiver/parent
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions, and clients’ progress in their adjustment to vision loss
• Documents at the level of required professional standard of a provider of counselling and meets the organizational reporting requirements
• Encourages individual independence but acknowledges at times support is a necessary part of achieving this outcome and prepares clients for this transition
• Utilises the most appropriate method of counselling to meet the clients’ individual needs and assist with achieving their outcomes
• Responds appropriately and in a timely manner to crises situations, including assessing and addressing high-risk behaviours (I.e., self harm or suicide)
• Provides professional and appropriate referrals to other internal and external programs/teams that will benefit the client
• Communicates effectively and confidentially with colleagues and external organizations.
• Records all required data in data system in a timely manner, consistent with VLRC standards
• Delivers services in keeping with VLRC’s standards, and provides effective and timely management of caseload
• Other duties as assigned

Relationships

• Builds relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders, partners, including local groups/agencies
• Provides appropriate support and consultation to individuals, clients, and their families
• Contributes as part of multidisciplinary team
• Works collaboratively with other agencies to ensure relationships and client needs are communicated and understood within ethical boundaries
• Refers to other counselling agencies when individual require services that are outside of the scope of the Vision Loss Rehabilitation counselling mandate

Problem Solving/Time Frame of Impact

• Utilizes established business rules, service standards and practices, and ensures policy and procedures are followed in a timely fashion
• Ability to creatively and quickly problem solve to respond to unique individual needs
• Participates in service evaluation and program planning processes, as needed, to maintain and improve service outcomes

Decision Autonomy

• Works under the general direction of national/divisional guidelines and standards but has latitude in making decisions on routine tasks
• Consults with manager on issues that are more complex or may require upper-level approval
• Exercises judgment and tact when working with individuals and knows when to elevate issues to the next level such as referring unusual client needs to appropriate person for service planning
• Committed to maintaining privacy and confidentiality

Leadership

• Takes initiative to keep abreast of new and changing community resources and VLRC policies & procedures
• Participates in professional development activities and remains current with developments in a specialized field of study
• Facilitates and enhances team efforts on a professional level and shares specialized knowledge, resources, experience, concepts, and skills
• Engages with students and volunteers as required

Requirements

III. Qualifications

Knowledge And Skill Requirements

• Personal or professional experience relating to blindness and vision loss is considered an asset
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with emphasis on motivational interviewing skills using a person-centered approach
• Self-directed, organized, and detail oriented with the ability to work under pressure
• Demonstration of a client-centered approach with a commitment to enable effective diagnosis and planning of treatments for each client
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently, with minimum supervision and use good judgment
• Proficient in use of both standard office software and specialized client management technology

Experience And Education

• Bachelor’s degree in counselling, therapy or mental health
• Master’s degree in counseling is considered an asset
• Lived experience or experience working with individuals with a disability in a rehabilitation or community setting

Work Environment

• Willingness to work flexible hours
• Provides services remotely
• Occasional travel may be required

Benefits

Apply Now!

If this sounds like the role for you, apply now to [email protected]

Be sure to include a resume, cover letter, and mention how you heard about this opportunity.

VLRC is committed to creating and fostering an inclusive culture and welcomes applications from diverse candidates, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, women, candidates with disabilities, and candidates of colour. We strongly encourage applications from applicants with sight loss. Direct lived experience would be a definite asset. We’re excited to review your application.

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to pass a standard Criminal Record Check.

We thank all applicants for their interest in VLRC, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Closing Date for Applications: 15th September, 2023