Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of nearly 45,000 medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

All new hires to Fraser Health must have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

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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.

• 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.