JOB POSTING:
Posting date: June 19, 2025

Application deadline: June 30, 2025

Expected Start date: September 2, 2025

End date: June 26, 2026

Continued recall for subsequent school

MISSION: To create a connected, collaborative, inclusive years is expected, dependent on funding

and sustainable community.

The FGCA is a non-profit charitable society governed by a Board of Directors. We are a multi-faceted
community organization that runs licensed programs (preschool, out-of-school care and daycare) and

community programs and services for individuals of all ages and stages.

Job Title: Youth and Family Counsellor, Esquimalt High School
Position Type: 0.8 FTE

Expected Start Date: September 2, 2025

End date: June 28, 2025
Hours of work: 28 hours per week, schedule to be determined in consultation with principal
Salary Range: Recruitment wage $31.30-$32.20 per hour, dependent on education and experience as a

school-based Youth & Family Counsellor. Wage range with years of service increases is $31.30 to $34.10.

Vacation and Benefits: Paid vacation during winter and spring breaks. Eligible for extended medical,

dental, Life, Critical Illness, LTD and AD&D after 3 month probationary period. (70% employer paid).

Eligible for RSP matching contributions after 3 months (up to 3% of gross pay). For additional

employment benefits see fairfieldcommunity.ca/employment opportunities

Additional budget available for expenses (including mileage) and professional development.

Reports to: Vanya McDonell, Co-Executive Director. Onsite supervisor is school Principal.

Overall Position Objectives

The role of the school-based Youth and Family Counsellor is to provide identification and intervention in

the areas of counselling, skill development, advocacy, and support services to vulnerable children/youth

and their families. Children/youth who are vulnerable are those who are experiencing familial,

emotional, behavioural, and/or cultural issues which significantly limit their capacity to function

effectively within their family, school, and/or community. Esquimalt High School serves approximately

700 students in grades 9 to 12 with a catchment including students from Esquimalt, Victoria West, View

Royal, Saanich, and the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. Esquimalt High offers special programs

for French Immersion, 4C Challenge Gifted Education, Student Leadership, Aboriginal Nations Education

and Career Preparation Programs in General Mechanics and Culinary Arts. Our motto “Esse Quam

Videri” means “to be, rather than to seem.” At Esquimalt High School we also think of this as “be true to

yourself” and we believe that this is the spirit of our school.

Goals of the Youth and Family Counselling Service

The Youth and Family Counsellor aims to have students:

• Remain enrolled and connected with an educational program;

• Maintain, repair and encourage healthy attachments to family and other significant adults;

• Develop healthy social relationships and positive self worth.

Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities

• To act in a non-curricular/non-teaching capacity in the school and in the community by

providing counselling and support services to students and their families;

• To provide a range of formal and informal interventions and services in the school to students

and their families;

• To provide individual, family, and group counselling for at risk students identified in the school

• To be available for crisis interventions when identified as necessary by school based case

management team;

• To be an advocate and support, consistent with the outcome goals, for students and their

families within the school environment;

• To participate in school based activities such as school-bases case management teams, case

conferences, and staff meetings and to keep accurate and current case documentation

concerning assessment, client goals, service actions and case evaluation;

• Initiate preventative interventions (i.e. health promotion, mental health strategies, parenting,

drug and alcohol education);

Qualifications (Education / Skills/ Abilities)

• A degree in Child and Youth Care or Social Work (or equivalent), with related experience

working with vulnerable youth and their families;

• The means and ability to do outreach to students and families;

• Will have a clear vulnerable sector Criminal Record and Abuse registry check;

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

• Membership with the South Vancouver Island School Based Youth & Family Counsellors

Association within one month of employment

Please find a full Job Description on our website https://fairfieldcommunity.ca/

The FGCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to establishing an inclusive, equitable, and
accessible environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, marital status or any other basis protected by applicable law. The FGCA is
committed to the values of diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage
applications from people who are experiencing barriers to equity. If you anticipate needing
accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process please contact Pippa Davis,
Operations Manager at office@fairfieldcommunity.ca or 250-382-4604. Any personal information
provided will be maintained in confidence.

Please forward your resume and cover letter to Vanya McDonell via email at

vmcdonell@fairfieldcommunity.ca and include “Youth and Family Counsellor” in the subject line. We

thank all applicants; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.