Job Description

Supportive Care Counsellor

Reporting to the Community Manager, the Supportive Care Counsellor works as a member of the interdisciplinary team to provide psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support to those diagnosed with a life limiting illness in the community and those receiving end-of-life care at Ed's House, and to their families and caregivers by performing standardized holistic and clinical assessments.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide 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 Provide psychological, emotional, social and spiritual support to those dying, to their families and caregivers/significant others within Northumberland County Perform standardized holistic clinical assessment and intervention using multiple clinical modalities, including various experiential therapy methods Provide individual, partner, family and group support therapies as necessary and required Provide 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 Facilitate and lead groups Connect, coordinate, advocate, educate and support access to community resources, additional service needs for clients and families, providing information and guidance Support access to spiritual companioning, and bereavement services Work closely with team members in handling situations requiring grief counseling, family crisis, and emotional support counseling Complete all case notes, maintaining up-to-date files, and keeping accurate documentation and statistics Assist and facilitate advance care planning for clients and families, including coordination of practical needs as necessary Work closely with the hospice services team in the provision of supportive group programming and individualized programs Organize, and assist in the planning, development and leading of an annual memorial service Advocate for clients and families and intervene within scope of practice on client and family's behalf Meet with clients, families and caregivers in a setting most appropriate (i.e. home, office, other) Act as an ad hoc resource and support for the care team and with their own self-care and needs, as HPC providers Document, track and prioritize 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 Provide for a culture of sharing, openness, education and mentoring other team members including health providers, students and volunteers Provide ongoing education, as required, to various organizations and in the community, to support the care of persons who are dying, their caregivers and families, including after-death Work with partners in need of identification and delivery of psychosocial, grief, loss and bereavement education Participate in Hospice Team Meetings Commits to meeting the privacy obligations and requirements of the agency as a custodian of Personal Health Informtion. Actively participates and complies with the Health & Safety Program of the agency. Promotes the philosophy and goals of the agency both locally and throughout the County. Contributes to team effectiveness and agency success.

Qualifications:

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 of experience in hospice palliative care Affiliation with related organization or governing body preferred Training in spiritual direction through a recognized theological college an asset Experience working with death and dying Demonstrates compassion, empathy, integrity, respect, courtesy and a caring attitude in all interactions Maintain current knowledge of the changing face of both hospice palliative care and bereavement. Be aware of a variety of recognized researchers/authors, theories and modalities 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 Valid driver's license and willingness to travel in the Northumberland County region for client visits and meetings 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 Vulnerable Sector Check is a requirement.
Community Care Northumberland is a non-profit, multi-service, volunteer-based community support organization serving residents of Northumberland County. www.commcare.ca
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), CCN will provide accommodation in all parts of the hiring process as required, upon request from applicants.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: From $30.24 per hour

Expected hours: 24.5 per week

Benefits:

Employee assistance program
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-09-03