Who is a Special Care Counsellor?

A Special Care Counsellor is a professional who works with individuals or groups of people of all ages who are experiencing or are likely to experience a variety of adjustment difficulties.

While SCCs are usually associated with youth in difficulty, they are also called upon to work with people who have physical and neurological disabilities, intellectual disabilities, psychological difficulties, mental health problems, addictions, Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as academic and learning difficulties, among others.

They also intervenes with people experiencing other difficulties, social phenomena and various crisis situations such as suicide, delinquency, drug addiction, prostitution, poverty, social isolation, trouble with the law or multiple disorders.

What is the Role of the Special Care Counsellor?

Special Care Counsellors play a key role in wellbeing. His or herTheir main objective is to promote the development and recovery of skills and the resumption of lifestyle habits in order to achieve an optimal level of adaptation. Their field of expertise: social integration and personal development.

With their concrete and personalized approach, the Special Care Counsellor can help you:

• Observe and evaluate the needs, abilities, lifestyle habits and behaviours of people with psychosocial adjustment difficulties.
• Screening, assessment, detection and evaluation of undiagnosed disorders.
• Assess the suicidal risk and degree of risk presented by a person in a crisis situation.

What is
the QASCC's
Role?

The QASCC created and implemented the Special Care Counselling Code of Conduct which has since been taught in the majority of CEGEPs offering SCC training.

The QASCC's function is also to provide protection to the clients and partners that its members work with in the course of their work. All interventions made by a Special Care Counsellor will be based on the Code of Conduct. In the event of a breach of the Code of Conduct, the public will be able to follow the complaint procedure against a member. This complaint will be dealt with by the disciplinary council.

The first meeting allows the SCC to clarify your request and to identify your needs. The SCC must then provide you with the following information:

• Frequency and duration of meetings
• Number of meetings to be scheduled
• Fees
• Presentation of the disciplinary intervention plan
• Revision of the service offer, etc.

They will explain in detail the proposed approach before undertaking it, with your consent.

The Special Care Counsellor has the obligation to determine a disciplinary intervention plan for each client entrusted to them as part of a planned intervention process.

A climate of trust and professionalism is paramount throughout the process. Special Care Counsellors who are members of the QASCC meet several requirements, including adequate training and adherence to the Code of Conduct, which provides a framework for their practice.

» Intervention Plan

If you believe that a Special Care Counsellor violated the Code of Conduct or does not meet the required professionalism, the QASCC is there to ensure your protection and you may then file a complaint.