Student Services Counsellor Personal and Career (PS5) - Sydney Waterfront Campus - Designated

Reporting to the Manager Student Services with functional reporting to the Manager Counselling and Wellness you will:

• Work collaboratively with the Student Services team and will be a part of the NSCC Counsellor Community of Practice.
• Conduct individual and group counselling services focused on Sydney Waterfront Campus Students and any NSCC Indigenous Student seeking culturally specific counselling support.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of human rights equity and diversity providing culturally sensitive accessible responsive high-quality service and supports.
• Implement student-centred dignified trauma-informed strategies for the purpose of supporting students at Sydney Waterfront Campus and NSCC Indigenous student wellness.
• Maintain current knowledge and comprehensive understanding of relevant College policies procedures and practices providing accurate information about the Student Services Team to students and the broader college community including faculty and staff.
• Review re-assess and modify counselling support plans including those in crisis and/or at risk of self-harm/suicide as required based on student needs and in collaboration with the Student Services team and other community supports.
• Complete timely documentation according to NSCC and regulatory policies.
• Attend campus Student Services and counsellor Community of Practice meetings supervision and consultations; liaise with staff and leadership regarding clinical practice case management professional development consultation and crisis management.
• Assess for and when appropriate recommend accommodations related to mental health issues liaising with other NSCC staff as required.
• Collaborate on the development of resource materials and lead or support the delivery of cultural wellness and health promotion activities.
• Develop relationships with various campus partners and community resources to foster support and engagement.
• Engage in continual professional development and relevant learning to remain current and responsive in practice.
• Assist with Campus events such as Wellness Week Orientation and Open House.

Qualifications and Occupational Experience:

• The minimum educational qualification for this position is a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work Psychology or Counselling or other Masters degree enabling registration with one of the provincial regulatory bodies.

• Registered with or undergoing candidacy process with the respective regulatory body Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW); Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP).

• You have a minimum of five years post-counselling credential relevant occupational experience counselling adults in a variety of specialties (e.g. academic career and personal) including working with post-secondary and or secondary students. Or a combination of pre/post-masters experience may also be considered including working in an Indigenous community or working directly with Indigenous individuals and families in a case management/supportive role addressing issues pertaining to mental health and wellbeing advocacy and social justice.

• Preference will be given to a Mikmaq speaker and/or knowledge of the lived experience of the Mikmaq Indigenous culture and community.

• Demonstrated training and experience facilitating psychoeducational groups and workshops.

• Competency in relation to the unique needs of Indigenous communities understanding the systemic barriers and challenges faced by Indigenous students in a post-secondary institution and the ability to apply a structural/anti-oppressive dignified and trauma informed analysis to service delivery.

• Demonstrated respect for individual cultural community and organizational diversity including the ability to identify and understand intersecting issues related to gender age sexual orientation disability race/ethnicity immigration status religion Indigenous heritage and gender identity.

• Awareness of the impacts of historical and ongoing colonialism and intergenerational trauma for Indigenous Metis and Inuit communities and demonstrated commitment to decolonialization and equity.

• Familiarity with mental health and behavioural concerns and intergenerational impacts that commonly present in post-secondary students.

• Evidence of current experience practicing one-on-one and group counselling including crisis intervention conflict resolution advocacy and harm reduction.

• Outreach advocacy and health promotion experience would be considered an asset.

• Experience with relevant computer applications such as databases case file management Microsoft suite of software Office 365 digital communication social media educational technology and learning platforms.

• You are comfortable working in a digital environment; you take responsibility for acquiring knowledge about advancing technology; and you are committed to using technology to create an exceptional student experience.

Relevant Skills and Knowledge:

• You demonstrate a commitment to the principles of human rights equity and diversity and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students staff and faculty.

• You possess excellent interpersonal skills that enable you to interact with a diversity of people and support resolution of issues.

• You are known for your superior customer service skills and can create a relationship of trust beyond the immediate interaction.

• Your superb team working skills enable you to contribute positively to a team environment.

• You are known for your problem solving and critical thinking skills.

• You are a strong communicator both written and oral.

• You possess excellent coordination skills specifically related to coordinating services work events logistics etc. and managing priorities and time management.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and independently and display a high degree of initiative.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to respond to a variety of needs of various stakeholders.

• Ability to foster and maintain partnerships with providers internally and externally for purposes of liaising referrals health promotion support planning and system navigation.

• Highly developed assessment listening observational therapeutic counselling and motivational interviewing skills.

• Proven judgement and discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters and the ability to respond tactfully calmly and with sound judgement to crisis situations and seek consultation as appropriate.

• Demonstrated ability to recognize mental health challenges and onset of mental health concerns and make timely appropriate referrals to appropriate community providers.

• Clinical competence and comfort working independently to manage crises and provide ongoing counselling to student in an academic setting.

• You are dedicated to life-long learning and a willingness to look at decolonized solutions that work to the self-determined wellness of students.

We value Diversity and Inclusion

The College values diversity and inclusion and is committed to employment equity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including Aboriginal/Indigenous Persons Black/African Nova Scotians members of racially visible communities persons with disabilities persons of a minority sexual orientation gender identity and/or expression and women. Applicants from these communities wishing to self-identify may do so by completing the online questionnaire within the application.

NSCC is organized into five campus regions and three stand-alone campuses. Each region and stand-alone campus is led by a designated Principal and regional management team which supports NSCCs commitment to accessible high-quality education across the province.

• Eastern Region: Includes Pictou Campus Strait Area Campus and Wagmatcook Learning Centre
• Northern Region: Includes Truro Campus Cumberland Campus and Amherst Learning Centre
• Metro Region: Includes Akerley Campus and IT Campus
• Southwest Region: Includes Lunenburg Shelburne Burridge Campuses and Digby Learning Centre
• Valley Region: Includes Kingstec Campus Annapolis Valley Campus and the Centre of Geographic Sciences COGS)

Stand-Alone Campuses:

• Ivany Campus
• Sydney Waterfront Campus
• eCampus

All NSCC positions are advertised every Tuesday and Thursday. To learn more about us and our hiring process please follow this link.

As a condition of employment Professional Support employees at NSCC must complete a two-year (part-time) adult education program delivered by NSCC. This adult education program is a significant investment on the part of NSCC in the learning and development of new employees. To achieve regular status; all probationary full or part-time Professional Support employees of the College must successfully complete the program within their probationary period. Term full-time Professional Support employees whose term appointment is twelve or more months are also required to participate in this program.

Candidates selected for interviews will be expected to provide at least three recent occupational references. The successful candidate will be expected to provide official transcripts to show proof of academic achievements.

NSCC is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. As part of this commitment NSCC will ensure that applicants are provided reasonable accommodations as required. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process please contact Jaclynn Kelly HR Generalist at emailprotected. Our Employee Workplace Accommodation Policy can be found here.