Counsellor
JD 0181
Unit/Project Description: The Resident Affairs team, in the Office of Postgraduate Medical Education is seeking a part time (17.5 hours/week) Wellness Counsellor to support our residents and trainees as they navigate medical training at McMaster University. The successful candidate will work closely with the PGME Resident Affairs Assistant Dean and PGME Resident Affairs Directors, a second Wellness Counsellor and will report to the PGME Manager.
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing brief, short-term, confidential wellness counselling for a range of academic, professional and personal stressors that can arise during postgraduate medical training at all 3 academic sites. The emphasis is on rapid access to virtual and in-person counselling for support, short-term counselling, and navigation to other appropriate resources and care, with an understanding of the workplace and academic environments in medicine. Resident Affairs is an educational office; when health or mental health assessment or care is required, the counsellor will assist the Assistant Dean and Directors in triaging and referring to appropriate community services for ongoing and intensive counselling and care. They will also participate in confidential case management meetings to discuss situations and cases arising requiring navigation and counselling expertise.
The Counsellor will also collaborate and consult with the Assistant Dean and faculty directors in PGME, as well as faculty and staff in programs at all 3 sites to provide information and advice to support trainee well-being and mental health and to advise on wellness interventions and curricula. In collaboration with the Assistant Dean and Directors, they will also participate in creating and/or offering educational and wellness programming, including offering sessions to residents within programs, about the activities of the Resident Affairs office, geared to the specific needs and contexts of trainees.
Job Summary: Responsible for promoting student development, student success, and student retention by designing, and providing a comprehensive range of psychological and educational services to aid students in achieving improved academic performance, enhanced personal and social effectiveness, and appropriate educational and career plans. .
Purpose and Key Functions:
- Identify, assess, develop, and implement effective treatment plans.
- Conduct in-depth counselling and therapy interviews and utilize existing theoretical models to interpret information.
- Provide assessments of mental health and risk factors and coordinate referrals with professionals within the Student Wellness Centre and the community.
- Aid clients in identifying and solving emotional and interpersonal problems that may be affecting their academic success, well-being, and bio-psycho-social development.
- Provide psychological counselling services such as personal counselling, group counselling, and crisis counselling.
- Interact and assess the level of risk when students present with indications of harm to self or others, or suicidality.
- Consult with others regarding how to manage difficult or disruptive behaviours.
- Respond and field inquiries from new and existing students by email and phone.
- Engage in problem solving to work through ethical dilemmas.
- Facilitate conflict resolution sessions.
- Provide debriefing to clients after a trauma has occurred.
- Advocate on behalf of students for special academic consideration.
- Nurture and support clients and encourage them to develop self care while finding a balance between multiple demands.
- Persuade clients to seek appropriate professional help and to attend appointments.
- Develop and deliver presentations, information, and training sessions to others.
- Develop and deliver group counselling and psychotherapy materials.
- Write case notes including client’s history and treatment plans.
- Write referral reports to other health professionals including general practitioners, psychiatrists, and other specialists.
- Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities.
- Review, assess, and recommend changes to enhance the effectiveness of service delivery models.
- Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of client records.
- Participate in professional development activities and remain current with frequent developments in a specialized field of study.
Supervision:
- Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.
- Provide orientation and show procedures to others.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.
- Requires 3 years of relevant experience.
Additional Information:
Position requirements:
- Graduate level training and experience in counselling, for example through social work (M.S.W) or counselling (M.Ed., M.A. or M. Sc Counselling Psychology)
- Experience working with learners in a post- secondary setting, ideally a medical school and/or residency, with knowledge of the specialty choice and residency match processes (familiarity with young adult population and post-secondary setting).
- Working knowledge of or willingness to learn about physician training/health care systems organization/residency matching process
- Strong writing skills
- The ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues at three McMaster UGME/PGME campuses, Hamilton, WRC, NRC
This position is for 17.5 hours per week for virtual and in person evening appointments. The role is focused on providing medical trainees with counselling opportunities in order to meet operational demand. A succe ssful applicant must have access to reliable transportation per travel to all three campuses.
