Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $44.85 - $56.02 / hour
Job Summary

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Detailed Overview

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor (VRC), as a member of an interdisciplinary team, provides individualized employment services to a caseload of clients recovering from mental illness seeking competitive employment in an integrated community setting, in accordance with the guidelines in the Fidelity Scale for Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services and relevant legislation. VRC services include evaluating clients' vocational needs, developing employment plans based on preferences, needs and abilities, conducting job development, direct marketing and job search activities in collaboration with community employers, negotiating job accommodations and workplace agreements, and advocating on behalf of the client in accomplishing their goals of returning to the workforce. The VRC also collaborates closely with Case Managers and other members of the interdisciplinary team to integrate vocational goals into the mental health recovery plan.
Responsibilities

1. Assesses and evaluates clients' vocational rehabilitation needs on an ongoing basis through methods such as collaborating with the client to determine their interests, skills and abilities, encouraging their involvement in plan development, and facilitating the setting of appropriate vocational rehabilitation.
2. Integrates vocational goals into the mental health treatment plan through collaboration with the Case Manager, members of the interdisciplinary team, and community professionals, and through engaging client in discussion to determine individual needs and potential career paths, abilities and interests and building a trusting and respectful relationship.
3. Engages directly with community employers to facilitate access to competitive employment opportunities as identified in the IPS Fidelity scale. Pro-active engagement with employers also incorporates communication and messaging strategies that aim to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the community. 
4. Coordinates client intake into supported employment services for the Mental Health Centre through methods such as liaising with referring clinical staff and the Case Manager, conducting intake interviews and coordinating and ensuring the timely assessment, entrance and orientation of participants.
5. Conducts job development, direct marketing and job search activities through methods such as developing networks and links with community employers and negotiating job accommodations and workplace agreements. Maintains up to date information on labour market trends and job marketing techniques and ensures positions are consistent with the needs and interests of the client.
6. Provides ongoing support services to clients related to employment through methods such as providing vocational rehabilitation counselling to client on an individual basis by telephone or at job site, facilitating group meetings and liaising with Case Manager and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. Provides on-site job coaching to ensure orientation and on-going training for clients and Employers as required.
7. Monitors client's progress on a continual basis through methods such as meeting with the client, revisiting goals, highlighting accomplishments, re-evaluating goals, communicating client progress to Case Manager and other members of the interdisciplinary team and ensuring client is meeting their goals and objectives.
8. Provides education and support to Employers, the Case Managers and other mental health services providers on vocational rehabilitation and the Individual Placement and Support Model through methods such as sharing vocational rehabilitation principles and techniques, coordinating and presenting education sessions and participating in professional development activities in order to improve care through new practices.
9. Participates in case, team and industry meetings and in-services by methods such as presenting relevant materials/topics to remain informed of practice activities, providing input on client cases as required and contributing to the Centre's initiatives.
10. Ensures the coordination of clients' departure through methods such as ensuring file closures, liaising with the Case Manager and ensuring referral to community, educational and training resources/supports as required.
11. Participates in departmental in-service programs including goal setting and planning and operating procedures and policies by providing input and evaluating the program on an ongoing basis to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of service.
12. Maintains a variety of records including clinical and evaluation records through methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, preparing reports as required in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and documenting for future reference.
13. Maintains knowledge in vocational rehabilitation through methods such as reviewing literature and research, consulting with clinical and community experts within the field and evaluating clinical practice.
14. Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in an applicable social or health sciences program and two years' recent, related experience providing vocational rehabilitation counselling and job marketing/development to individuals with mental illness or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Eligibility for certification as a rehabilitation professional with a recognized association. Valid B.C. Driver's License - Class 5 and personal vehicle for work-related purposes.

Skills and Abilities

• Basic counselling skills in working with clients with mental illness.
• Demonstrated knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental illnesses.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Individual Placement and Support Model.
• Ability to assess, plan, organize, implement, evaluate and problem-solve.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with co-workers, clients, staff, physicians, families and community agency personnel.
• Ability to work effectively with others, including working effectively in a multicultural environment, independently, as part of an interdisciplinary team and understanding the frameworks of other disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, revise, and participate in evaluation of programs.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload in a complex and changing environment.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of relevant Acts such as Mental Health Act, Freedom of Information Act, pertinent regulations, policies and procedures, and other statutory duties.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate best practice in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary team, internal staff, caregivers and external community agencies.
• Ability to educate staff, caregivers, community agencies and other healthcare professionals.
• Ability to develop, coordinate and deliver in-services, presentations, and support groups.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers, including related word processing and database management software applications.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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