Veteran Counsellor

Job Title: Veteran Counsellor 

Organization: John Howard Society  

Location: In Person, Victoria, BC 

Job Type: Part-time, Permanent  

Work hours: 20 hours, during Mon - Fri, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm  

Salary: $32.45 per hour

Benefits: Employee Engagement Activities, Organization Events, Dental care, Disability insurance, Employee assistance program, Extended health care, Life insurance, Paid time off, RRSP match 

Who We Are:  

John Howard Society of Victoria is a fast paced growing, dynamic and innovative social service organization that strives to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. Our goal is to help individuals achieve greater independence by providing support with housing, life-skills, education, employment, and community-based services.  

At John Howard Society of Victoria we come from various backgrounds and share a common goal of wanting to make things better in our community, for our community. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that adapts to your needs. 

Our Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values:  

• Our Vision: A safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all 

• Our Mission: We contribute to a safer, stronger and more sustainable communities by supporting people to achieve greater independence 

• Our Goals: Service Excellence, Organizational Sustainability, Capacity 

• Our Values: Dignity, Advocacy, Empowerment, Collaboration, Accountability, Resiliency 

What We Offer: 

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy paid vacation, sick and personal time, health and dental plans, long-term disability, critical illness and RRSP 

• Supportive Environment: Our Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities are designed to help you succeed both personally and professionally. We invest in our employees' growth through training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. 

• Engaging Culture: Be part of a friendly team that values your input! With numerous employee engagements, you can make your voice heard and contribute to meaningful change for our clients and our community. 

• Employee Engagement: We often organize team and social gatherings to strengthen relationships and foster camaraderie to create a supportive network among colleagues. 

• Impactful Work: Employees at JHS Victoria are driven by a shared mission to make a positive difference in the community. Engaging in meaningful work enhances job satisfaction and connects team members to a greater purpose. 

About the Program:  

Veterans Housing Supports Program (VHSP) program provides housing and wraparound support to veterans and retired RCMP officers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Our program focuses on individualized support services to improve integration and connectedness to support structures, including housing attainment, rental assistance, basic needs, and access to counselling or treatment. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care, participants are supported through service planning, case management, and optional one-on-one or group counselling, with the aim of fostering stability, dignity, and community connection. 

Position Summary:  

The Position reports to Manager, Community Programs 

We are looking an empathic and client-centric Veteran Counsellors to play a vital role in guiding and supporting Veterans in the Program. The Counsellor, is responsible for guiding and supporting veterans in the program, providing them with the necessary resources and assistance to improve their overall well-being. The role involves delivering emotional support, crisis response, coordinating support programs, facilitating group events, increase awareness of the program in the community  and advocating for veterans' needs within the organization and the community. This is an in-person role with no opportunity for remote work. 

What You'll Be Doing: 

Client Services (40%) 

• Works in collaboration with the client to conduct a needs assessment, and then formulate a comprehensive service plan that is reviewed and modified with client on a regular basis.  

• Conduct intake assessments and individual counseling sessions with veterans to assess their needs, identify challenges, and provide crisis support while developing individualized treatment and recovery plans. 

• Provide 1:1 clinical or therapeutic counseling to veterans using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches such as CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy, tailored to the needs of each individual using evidence-based therapeutic interventions to address veterans’ mental health concerns, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, operational stress injuries, and substance abuse.  

• Deliver crisis intervention, de-escalation support, and emotional stabilization services as needed, including safety planning for those at risk of self-harm, suicide, or relapse. 

• Facilitate short-term and ongoing therapy depending on client needs and funding availability, with clear treatment goals and outcome tracking. 

• Collaborate with veterans and liaise with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services (PCVRS) Consultants to provide comprehensive wrap-around support. 

• Collaborate with veterans to establish realistic and measurable goals and strategies for life skills, personal growth, resilience, and successful reintegration into civilian life. 

• Provide ongoing assessment of suicide risk, mental health stability, and monitor for any problematic substance use, behavioral addictions, or signs of relapse. 

• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive practices in all counseling and case planning activities. 

• Stay informed about current research, best practices, and policies related to veteran issues, and apply this knowledge to inform program development and service delivery.   

• Participate in regular case consultations with the outreach team to coordinate care and ensure alignment of support strategies. 

• Initiate and support discharge planning processes, ensuring smooth transitions for clients who are completing services or no longer eligible for the program. 

Coordinate Support Programs (20%) 

• Develop and implement support programs specifically designed to address the unique needs of veterans, such as group counseling sessions, peer support networks, and educational workshops.  

• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to ensure a comprehensive range of services is available to veterans, including housing assistance, employment support, education and training opportunities, and access to healthcare services.  

• Monitor and assess ongoing risk related to mental health, suicide, substance use, and other high-risk behaviors; document and report in alignment with professional and organizational standards. 

• Refer clients to appropriate external clinical professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, detox, trauma specialists) when care needs exceed program scope or duration. 

Outreach and Community Engagement  (20%) 

• Contact and maintain partnerships with external community agencies to facilitate cross-referrals and knowledge of services. 

• Design and execute creative outreach campaigns—both online and in-person—to introduce the program to new audiences and deepen engagement with existing ones. 

• Attend awareness and networking events such as fairs and expos on behalf of the program. 

• Monitor and analyze engagement metrics to refine outreach tactics and maximize impact. 

• Identify and leverage seasonal, cultural, or industry-specific moments to spotlight the program in relevant conversations.                      

Documentation and Reporting (20%) 

• Maintain accurate, detailed, and up-to-date records of counseling sessions, clinical assessments, individualized treatment plans, consent forms, risk assessments, and discharge summaries, in accordance with organizational policies, clinical best practices, and applicable privacy legislation (e.g., FOIPPA, PIPA). 

• Prepare monthly narrative and statistical reports summarizing client caseloads, presenting issues, service delivery trends, and therapeutic outcomes to support internal reporting and continuous program improvement. 

• Maintain thorough, timely, and clinically sound case notes following each session or significant client interaction, ensuring documentation accurately reflects therapeutic interventions, risk assessments, client progress, and any follow-up or referrals made. 

• Contribute to quarterly and annual program evaluations by synthesizing clinical data, identifying patterns in client needs, and making recommendations for service enhancements. 

• Track and report on referrals made to external clinical professionals, including reasons for referral and continuity of care outcomes. 

Perform other duties and projects as required and not limited to the responsibilities as mentioned. 

*The assigned percentage of job responsibilities may vary based on organizational and operational priorities. 

What We’re Looking For:  

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant or transferable experience working with individuals facing complex needs. A Master’s degree is considered an asset.  

• Trained in a number of evidence-based therapies that treat trauma such as, but not limited to EMDR, CPT, PE. 

• Knowledge or experience working with Veterans Affairs is an asset.  

• Someone with a passion for and interest in working with vulnerable veterans is an asset 

• Proficient in verbal and written English at a professional level, with excellent communication, organization and interpersonal abilities. 

• High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and case management systems. 

• Criminal Record Check. 

• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle, insured for business up to $5,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport clients.   

• Emergency First Aid certification is an asset.  

• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information effectively and possess strong integrity. 

Skills and Competencies:  

• Experience in developing effective service plans through interviews with veterans and families if applicable 

• Experience writing assessments detailing social, psychological, emotional, and behavioural issues affecting veterans and maintain clinical records and reports. 

• Utilize clinical assessments within scope of practice through client self-assessments and reports by other service providers to monitor progress. 

• Ability to build rapport and establish relationships.  

• Ability to facilitate psychoeducational, experiential and process group sessions and engage veterans in meaningful discussions. 

• Strong assessment and case management skills. 

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. 

• Compassion, empathy, and a non-judgmental attitude. 

• Cultural competence and ability to work with a diverse population. 

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and adhere to ethical guidelines. 

• Maintain knowledge related to relevant issues regarding treatment for veterans in the areas of trauma, addiction, mental health, and traumatic brain injuries in ongoing professional development. Experience dealing with VAC an asset. 

• Awareness of military culture and unique challenges that veterans face. 

Who You Are:  

You are a compassionate professional who finds purpose in supporting those who served their country. You are driven by empathy, resilience, and a passion for helping veterans overcome challenges and thrive in civilian life. You’re not only a skilled counselor, but also a patient listener and creative problem-solver. You approach every interaction with cultural humility, respecting each veteran’s diverse background and unique story. In this role, you will: 

• Lead with empathy and compassion: You build trust quickly by listening without judgment. Veterans feel heard and understood because you truly care about their well-being and respect their experiences. 

• Stay resilient and calm under pressure: Whether you’re de-escalating a crisis or supporting someone through trauma, you remain steady, patient, and confident. You handle tough situations with grace and use your training to guide veterans toward stability and hope. 

• Practice cultural humility: You recognize and respect the diverse backgrounds of veterans. You’re open-minded and eager to learn from each person’s unique cultural experiences, ensuring your approach is inclusive and sensitive to each individual’s needs. 

• Excellent communicator and collaborator: You express yourself clearly and listen actively. Colleagues and community partners know they can count on you to work collaboratively and share knowledge. You believe supporting veterans is a team effort and nurture a positive, cooperative environment. 

• Adaptable and proactive: Every veteran’s journey is different, and you’re quick to adjust to changing situations or needs. Whether it’s altering a support plan or stepping in to organize a last-minute group session, you’re resourceful, flexible, and always looking for solutions. 

• Detail-oriented and accountable: You take pride in doing things thoroughly. From keeping meticulous case notes after each session to maintaining confidentiality and ethical standards, you understand that staying organized is key to providing the best care. 

Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities at JHS Victoria: 

At John Howard Society of Victoria, we proudly embrace the rich diversity of the communities we serve, and we’re excited to invite applicants from all backgrounds to join our team!  We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and we are committed to providing the support needed to ensure equal opportunities for success throughout the hiring process. John Howard Society of Victoria will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email hr@jhsvic.ca if you have a need for any accommodation. We’re here to help! 

Ready to Make a Positive Impact? 

If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in people’s lives and meet the qualifications for this role, we’d love to hear from you!  

Please submit your application through our portal. Submission deadline is March 31, 2026 and we’ll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. So don’t wait—apply today and take the next step in your journey with us!