Job Information

Job Title: Child and Youth Care Counsellor
Job Requisition ID: 72045
Ministry: Children and Family Services
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Full or Part-Time: Full Time and Casual
Hours of Work: Up to 38.75 hours per week 
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent and Wage (Casual)
Closing Date: June 9, 2025
Classification: Child and Youth Care 1 (CYC1)
Salary: $2,233.21 to $2,862.44 bi-weekly ($58,286.78 to $ 74,709.68 Annually)
Wage: $28.82 to $36.93 per hour

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy

The Ministry of Children and Family Services funds programs and services to support vulnerable children, youth, families and individuals to live safely and succeed in Alberta. This includes providing services and resources to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect, and effectively address harm that has placed them in need of intervention. Mentoring and support services are available to youth transitioning into healthy, productive adults. The ministry also invests in community-based groups that support prevention and early intervention services such as family resource networks, youth emergency shelters as well as programs that raise awareness and help respond to family violence, sexual violence and abuse.

To learn more about our ministry’s work, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/children-and-family-services

Role Responsibilities

Provincial Campus Based Care (PCBC) centres across the province offer 24/7 trauma-informed care and secure services for vulnerable youth (ages 12-17 receiving child intervention services) and their families. PCBCs integrate best practices to help youth reach their potential and address emotional and behavioural therapeutic needs.

PCBCs goal is for youth to return to a less intensive form of care, become independent or return to their families. PCBCs encompass several programs to support youth such as Indigenous/cultural supports, recreation therapy services, on-site schools, medical services, transition and connection services, addiction support, occupational therapy and access to facility dogs.   

Reporting to the Child and Youth Care Team Lead, the Child and Youth Care Counsellor will provide direct care and support to youth within a trauma-informed environment. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure a safe and secure environment, assess and identify the specific needs of youth, and implement direct program delivery for vulnerable youth receiving child intervention services via the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) and/or Protecting Sexually Exploited Children's Act (PSECA).

Key Responsibilities:

• Walk alongside and provide direct care and support to emotionally and behaviourally challenged youth.
• Ensure a safe and secure environment consistent with the centre's philosophy and policies.
• Assess, identify and implement the specific needs of youth in care.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop and evaluate care plans.
• Work directly with youth and their families to provide comprehensive support.
• Provide input to the multidisciplinary team based on observations and direct interactions with youth.
• Maintain a trauma-informed approach in all interactions and interventions.
• Work in either an open or secure environment as required.
• Case management for youth that is consistent with organization policies, procedures, philosophy, goals and learning environment.

PCBC centres value the unique perspectives, cultural knowledge and experiences that Indigenous peoples, including the youth the centre serves. At all centres, PCBCs actively work to create a culturally safe and supportive environment for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

You will need the following competencies to be successful in this role:

• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to gather information from varied sources, analyze and interpret information to formulate reports and make decisions related to case planning.Agility: Ability to prioritize competing workload pressures in an effective manner and contribute to the organizational goals. 
• Drive for Results: Demonstrates ability to gather, integrate and interpret complex information sets and accomplishes goals and priorities to deliver outcomes consistent with departmental objectives and directives. Excellent analytical, assessment and critical judgement skills. 
• Building Collaborative Environments: Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with a variety of teams within the workplace, community, and other Government ministries/agencies to meet client and ministry goals and objectives.
• Developing Networks: Ability to interact positively, build relationships and work effectively with others.
• Develop self and others: Ability to invest in the development of long-term capability of yourself and others.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards:

Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Child and Youth Care or related human service profession. 

Related Education (either Diploma or Degree):

• Human Service Worker, Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Correctional or Police Services, Psychology, Sociology and Education.
• There are no equivalencies for Child and Youth care Worker 1. Candidates must possess, at minimum, a diploma in one of the previously listed educational areas.
• If you hold a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Social Work, you will be required to be registered through Alberta college of Social Workers (ACSW)

The ideal candidate will possess:
 

• Knowledge in being trauma informed and relevant best practices in campus based or residential (group) settings.
• Principles in behavior management and de-escalation techniques, relational practices, systems theory, ecological approaches, and therapeutic crisis intervention.
• Knowledge in developmental, trauma related and mental health disorders and disabilities affecting youth such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, pervasive personality, suicidal ideation, autism and substance addictions.
• A genuine commitment and willingness to Indigenous engagement. 
• Experience with issues related to youth development such as self-esteem, gender diversity, identity crisis/confusion, peer pressure and/or bullying

Required: Class 5 driver’s license.

Assets:

• Case and record management experience.
• Related experience in therapeutic campus-based care/group care setting.
• Experience working with Indigenous populations.
• Experience in crisis intervention, family counselling, youth counselling, youth correction work, and behavioral therapy experience.
• Current certification in First Aid with CPR and suicide intervention.
• Experience with assessment tools and program planning, community resources, safety and security measures.
• Knowledge in child/adolescent development theories including social learning, moral development, cognitive development, attachment, resiliency, strengths-based competency models and change models.
• Experience working within appropriate legislation, acts, and policy such as Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act and Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act, Accreditation Standards, regional policy and procedures, PSECA protocol for police services, Public Health Act and the PCBC Policy and Procedures Manual. 
• Familiarity with Mental Health Act, School Act, Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, Young Offenders Protocol (Youth Criminal Justice Act), Occupational Health and Safety Association would be beneficial.
• Experience delivering culturally appropriate services to Indigenous populations.
• Experience working with complex youth and completion of therapeutic crisis intervention (TCI).

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

A cover letter is not required with your application, as such it is important that your resume is detailed and accurate, listing your experience, as well as the months, years, your title, and duties you performed.

This competition will be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to fill current and future vacancies at our care centres.
 

Location

• Lethbridge, Alberta

Pre-Employment Requirements

As part of the application process, you are required to complete and satisfactorily qualify on:

• Virtual multi-panel interview,
• Academic credential check,
• Professional and/or academic reference checks,
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector,
• Intervention Record Check,
• Alberta College of Social Workers Registration (if applicable)
• Provide a valid Class 5 driver's license
• Provide a Current 5 Year Commercial Driver Abstract

Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Candidates who incur a cost to complete any of the above listed pre-employment checks will be eligible for reimbursement if they are hired into a position in the Provincial Campus Based Centres. Please ensure that you keep your receipt or proof of purchase to complete the expense process once hired.

Candidate screening and interviews will be taking place periodically throughout the job posting. Interviews will be taking place virtually, and accommodation may be made if requested.
Successful candidates will be placed into a talent pool, at which point their pre-employment checks will be conducted and their suitability will be assessed.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages- working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs

How to Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply  online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

For applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, we recommend obtaining an evaluation of your credentials from one of the following: the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) (https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx), or another recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator. You can find more information on credential evaluation services by visiting the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.
 
Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, and/or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact CFS PCBC Recruitment at CFS.PCBC-Recruitment@gov.ab.ca.