Vital Connections Counsellor Competition # 85-24

DO YOU WANT A MEANINGFUL CAREER, HELPING OTHERS? JOIN US!

About the Role

At Family Services of Greater Vancouver, we’ve been helping people in crisis since 1928. As a non-profit, we help people develop skills and knowledge, empowering our neighbours to create positive change in their lives. Our team is made up of more than 420 staff, including expert counsellors and support workers who provide compassionate, client-centered care to youth experiencing homelessness, families and children impacted by trauma, victims of domestic violence, and other vulnerable people from an evidence-based, trauma-informed lens. We believe in building a brighter future for all British Columbians and providing a supportive and inclusive workplace for all our staff.

The Vital Connections Program is a partnership between Family Services of Greater Vancouver and the City of New Westminster. As a Counsellor in the Vital Connections Program, you will provide short- and long-term counseling services to older adults, addressing a wide range of issues including trauma, grief and loss, family and relationship difficulties, and developmental concerns associated with older adulthood. Your work will also include collaborating with other older-adult serving agencies and organizations in New Westminster. You will bring a creative, collaborative, grounded approach to your work and are passionate about working with older adults. Our counselling services are provided from a client-centered, trauma-informed, intersectional lens to support our clients in navigating the unique challenges of aging.

About Our Opportunity:

Our Valued Benefits:

•       Flexible scheduling

•       Possibility of hybrid work/ remote work

•       A work culture that values transparency, teamwork, learning, fairness and integrity

Work Hours: 14 hours per week

Salary: GS13 Step 1 $37.89 per hour

Location: FSGV New Westminster office, 200-601- 6th street, New Westminster, BC (with the possibility of working some hours remotely)

Start Date: ASAP

Posting End Date: Posting will remain open until filled

What you bring:

Education, Training, Experience

•       Master's Degree in Social Work, Counselling or Clinical Psychology & current registration with a regulatory body: RSW or RCC

•       Specialized training in Gerontology, trauma counselling, bereavement, and Family Systems an asset.

•       Minimum of three years clinical counselling experience with older adults.

•       Experience in individual, couple, family and group counselling

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

•       Strong understanding of developmental stages of older adulthood, including physical emotional and social concerns that may arise.

•       Trauma theory and interventions as they pertain to clinical work with older adults

•       Background in expressive arts therapy or training in integrating creative modalities into therapy and/or somatic approaches are highly desirable.

•       Proficiency in both short-term and long-term counseling practices.

•       Sensitivity to the specific needs and experiences of older adults, with a strong commitment to their well-being.

•       Ability to work well both independently and as a member of a collaborative team

•       Commitment to working from a trauma-informed, intersectional, inclusive lens and to supporting diverse populations.

Additional Requirements

•     Successful completion of criminal record check

How to apply:

If this describes you, please submit your application to us through our website, https://fsgv.ca/careers/

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for your interest.

We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the communities we so proudly serve, while encompassing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations including queer, trans, and two-spirit people. In our words and actions, we recognize the challenges for those facing inequalities, while acknowledging our privilege, as we continuously strive to remove bias and reduce barriers that individuals may experience in the hiring and job-seeking process. We invite feedback from all applicants who apply for roles with the Agency.

If you require a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email your resume and cover letter (indicating the competition number #85-24 in the email subject line) outlining your interest and relevant experience to your contact information to  for follow-up. **If you are an internal candidate, please indicate “Internal Candidate” in the Comments section at the bottom of the online application**

Our programs are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unseeded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil Waututh), Qayqayt, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwekwetlem, Semiahmoo, Matsqui, and Tsawwassen First Nations. Huy ch q’u.