Supportive Counsellor

Reporting To: Sr. Director, Clinical Services

Union: SEIU Local 1

Status: Full Time

Hospice Niagara, a not-for-profit charitable organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting illnesses, death, dying, grief and loss, is seeking a Supportive Counsellor.

Position Summary

Hospice Niagara’s clinical team includes counsellors specializing in psycho-social, bereavement and spiritual care that help people and their loved ones to process their physical, practical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual, and grief needs throughout their progressive illness, dying and bereavement journeys.

Reporting to the Director of Care, one position on this team works at The Stabler Centre as a member of an interdisciplinary team, supporting the holistic philosophy of hospice palliative care. This Clinician assesses and provides supportive services to clients and loved ones to inform decision-making, individual care plans, and coordination of various other support services. Specifically, this clinician is responsible for providing psychological, emotional, social, spiritual, and grief support for the person who is dying, and their loved ones; as well as regularly reviewing supportive services to adjust to the changing care needs throughout the course of illness and bereavement.

This Clinician performs all duties in a safe and healthy manner, in accordance with Hospice Niagara’s policies and procedures, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and all other applicable legislation.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Care, this Clinician provides support for the necessary and practical aspects of end-of-life decision making such as providing resource information on procuring financial planning, as well as helping to arrange power of attorney, wills, funeral/burial arrangements, and legacy wishes. Interventions are solutions-focused, person-centred and strength-based using multiple clinical modalities, including individual, couple, and group counseling, advocacy, education, access to community supports, and spiritual companioning.

This Clinician also works to identify and address internal work stressors within the interdisciplinary team and offers education, debriefing, processing and self-care support. This position is also the Lead for the development of transition programs for those awaiting hospice services.

Responsibilities include:

• Clinical psycho-spiritual assessment, counselling, support and care planning
• Spiritual companioning
• Client/patient advocacy
• Program development and research
• Volunteer team capacity building
• Staff and volunteer mentoring and education
• Public education
• Working collaboratively with community partners
• Raising positive community awareness of hospice palliative care and of the programs and services provided by Hospice Niagara
• Demonstrate personal initiative and participation in other aspects of working for a non-profit organization, including participating in organizational events and fundraising activities
• Participating on related internal committee or project teams (e.g. Ethics, Wellness, etc.)
• Reporting any contravention of health and safety policies or regulations
• Other duties, as assigned

Skills & Attributes

• Strongly demonstrates compassion, empathy and integrity
• Clear understanding and commitment to ethics, as they relate to hospice palliative care
• Effectively presents information in one-on-one and small group settings
• Ability to work collaboratively within a palliative care interdisciplinary team setting, but also capable of working comfortably and confidently on own
• High degree of self-direction and self-motivation
• Knowledge and understanding of community development
• Completes documentation and reports in an accurate and time-sensitive manner
• Strong dedication to the vision, mission and values of Hospice Niagara
• Highly developed inter-personal, problem solving and conflict management skills
• Demonstrates focus on person-centred care
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English (proficiency in French and other languages considered an asset)
• Demonstrates organizational, critical thinking and prioritization skills
• Proficiency in computer skills including Outlook, Microsoft Word and databases
• Flexibility to work varying shifts, including days, nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on client needs
• Exhibit a professional, compassionate and caring approach
• Demonstrate strong active listening and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to develop relationships based on trust, compassion and empathy
• Effectively set appropriate boundaries and understand the limitations of volunteers in client care
• Demonstrate a high degree of self-direction and self-motivation
• Demonstrate a healthy adjustment to loss and exercise ongoing self-care

Academic, Training, Knowledge & Experience

• Master’s Degree (preferred) in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, Theology and/or Ministry and Spirituality
• Training in a certificate program in Spiritual Direction and Theology, or Working in Grief and Loss (considered an asset)
• Related experience with expert knowledge in hospice palliative care, end-of-life care, and oncology with supervision of clinical practice (preferred) and experience working across health care settings
• Strong consultation skills with expert knowledge of models of consultation and their application with individual, team and community service providers
• Research and/or program evaluation, experience with knowledge of evidence based processes, including appraisal of research, application of findings and collaboration on research projects
• Vulnerable Sector Police Check (favourable, within past 12 months)
• Fundamentals of Palliative Care (preferred, must be completed within 12 months of hire)
• First Aid/CPR (preferred, must be taken within 12 months of hire)
• Mask Fit (preferred, must be completed within 12 months of hire)
• Safe Food Handling (preferred, must be completed within 12 months of hire)

Please note that Hospice Niagara requires that all newly hired employees are to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of being hired and provide proof of full vaccination, or provide proof of a bona fide medical or Human Rights Code exemption on a form issued from and approved by Hospice Niagara.

Hospice Niagara is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), individuals requiring accommodation during the application/recruitment process should advise Human Resources so arrangements can be made. All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.