Mental Health Counsellor

A. Job Identification:
Title: Regulated Mental Health Counsellor
Immediate Supervisor: Superintendent of School Effectiveness/Mental Health Strategist

B. Job Summary:
Under the direction of the Superintendent of School Effectiveness and the clinical supervision of the Mental Health Strategist, the Regulated Mental Health and Addiction Counsellor will provide short-term, evidence-based intervention services to students in Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario schools, who present with mild to moderate mental health concerns.

C. Duties and Responsibilities:
• Conduct intake interviews with students to determine level of therapeutic need and whether needs fall within the Board’s service delivery model.
• Provide brief evidence-based therapeutic interventions as endorsed by School Mental Health Ontario (e.g., BRISC, BDI, CBT) to students with mild to moderate mental health needs to address short-term goal setting.
• Develop and provide evidence-based psycho-educational and skill-building groups to students on a variety of mental health topics (e.g., healthy relationships, anxiety, depression, stress awareness and coping skills, etc.).
• Liaise and refer students with complex and/or chronic mental health concerns to intensive mental health services available through community agency partners, as needed.
• Be knowledgeable and follow Board Protocols (e.g., SPIRR, VTRA, Child Protection), as needed.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments as needed, report risk of harm to self or others, report child protection concerns, etc.
• Participate in bi-monthly clinical supervision to review therapeutic case planning, monitor therapeutic progress of students, triage service provision, and discuss and resolve ethical issues.
• Travel across the Board spending part or whole days, as required, to provide mental health services to students in schools.
• Consult and liaise with members of multi-professional teams including, teachers, school administrators, student liaison consultant, psychology team and external community partners ect., to ensure a coordinated effort in supporting student mental health.
• Maintain case notes and client files related to individual and group interventions.
• At the request of Superintendents, may be called upon to assist crisis response team in responding to a school crisis.
• Develop and deliver professional learning sessions to educators, other board personnel and parents.
• Perform other duties as assigned which are unplanned or of a transient nature and are consistent with the above job summary and duties.

D. Qualifications:
• Completion of a graduate degree (Masters) in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, or related field, with relevant graduate level courses and training and experience in providing therapy/ counselling. Completion of a bachelor’s degree with relevant undergraduate counselling courses and training and work experience may also be considered.
• Be a current member in good standing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists, or the Ontario College of Social Workers.
• Professional experience in providing evidence-based therapy and interventions (e.g., CBT, BRISC, BDI), psychoeducational supports and mental health services to children and adolescents (minimum of 2 years).
• Ability to use tact, discretion and maintain information in the strictest of confidence.
• Excellent organizational, communication and coordination skills.
• Must be self-directed and detail oriented.
• A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, and willingness to travel to rural schools across the CDSBEO are required.

E. Commitment to Equity:
The CDSBEO is committed to equity in employment. We are committed to equitable hiring practices. We are committed to the inclusion and anti-oppression practices.ant’s current or previous work environment