CHRISTINE BRITTAIN
Saint John,NB
Summary
Results orientated professional with a proven track record of building strong relationships, solving complex problems, and delivering high-quality outcomes. Recognized for integrity, adaptability and a collaborative approach to achieving organizational goals.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Employee Assistance Program Counsellor
Health Canada
01.2020 - Current
- Counselling services provided to Federal Government employees.
- Solution focused brief therapy for issues of anxiety, stress, relationship counselling, grief, emotional regulation, depression, workplace stress, and other issues as identified.
Private Therapist/Practitioner
01.2005 - Current
- Private counseling and therapy- Strength based, Solution focused brief therapy with children, adolescents, adults, couple and families.
- Voice of the Child Reports – Prepare Reports for the Family Court- to represent children and to provide an objective account of the child’s perceptions, experiences, voices, and opinions.
- Clinical, structured interviews with children; the parents/guardians; and collateral contacts (as applicable).
- A file/document review and preparation of a Family Court Report.
Clinical lead
Family Plus life solutions
03.2025 - 11.2025
- Clinical oversight and mentorship to individual clinicians.
- Weekly meetings with individual clinicians.
- Identify gaps in service provisions.
- HR oversight, addressing issues and conflict resolution.
- Lead monthly team meetings for all clinical staff.
- Management meetings bi-weekly.
- Therapy caseload of clients.
- Support programs of intake and community-based services for victims of sexual abuse.
- Mentorship and direction for students and interns.
Manager of Clinical Services
KV Psychology and Wellness Clinic
09.2023 - 03.2025
- Clinical oversight and mentorship to individual clinicians.
- Lead monthly peer consultation meetings.
- Measuring clinical performance and outcomes.
- Identify and address gaps in service provisions.
- HR oversight and conflict resolution.
- Recruitment and retention of highly qualified and experienced clinicians.
- Maintain a caseload of therapy clients.
- Participate in the Management Team and Center Development.
Program Delivery Manager – Child Welfare
Department of Social Development
01.2015 - 10.2023
- Responsible for Program Delivery oversight in Child Protection, Investigations, Child in Care and Clinical Specialist programs; planning, directing and monitoring the programs and managing the program budgets.
- Management of eight teams and approximately sixty-five staff.
- Human Resource Management; recruiting, training, mentoring and evaluating staff.; change management; client service orientations; networking and building relationships with teams, partners and stakeholders; team leadership; and positive workplace initiatives to foster a supportive work environment.
- Working with community partners and community agencies supported by the Department to improve child well-being including oversight of program delivery and developing contracts.
- Providing clinical supervision to social workers and supervisors, to ensure services meet safety and risk assessment standards.
- Liaison between teams in Child Welfare and the Regional Management Team and Senior management team relating to Child Welfare Issues.
- Ensure adherence to Departmental policy, procedures and standards; and legislation. Provide decision support to senior management.
Counsellor
Gentle Path counseling Services
01.2005 - 01.2023
- Counsellor for children and families; brief therapy including issues of emotional regulation, grief, separation and loss, anxiety, anger management, family violence, safety assessments, depression, family relationship issues and Voice of the child Assessments.
Supervisor – Child Protection Unit
Department of Social Development
01.2005 - 01.2015
- Responsible for the Clinical and Administrative Supervision of Social Workers performing Child Protection Case Management services.
- This includes knowledge of social work intervention methods; interpersonal, problem solving and decision making; coaching skills and leadership.
- Management of child protection staff including recruiting, determining training and developmental needs, resolving conflicts, setting performance objectives and conducting performance evaluations.
- Liaison between front line workers and middle and upper management as related to child welfare issues; as well as building external partnerships.
- Ensure that departmental policy, procedures and child protection standards are maintained.
Child Protection Social Worker
Family and Community Social Services
01.1993 - 01.2005
- Case manager of caseload of 20 families experiencing familial issues including family violence, child abuse or neglect, addictions, childhood behavioral disorders, children with special needs, grief and separations.
- Investigations of child abuse and neglect; family counseling, preparation of social histories, preparation of Family Court applications and Affidavits, completion of comprehensive risk assessments, liaison with community professionals, and to advocate on behalf of clients.
- Committee work: Provincial Working Group-for Child Support workers in New Brunswick Transition Homes (2002-2003); Family Violence Conferences Steering committee (2000-2003); Provincial Child Protection Standards Review Committee (2005); New Directions in Child Protection- Legislation and Policy Development.
Education
MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK - Individual and the Family, Family and Child Welfare, Family Violence
Dalhousie University
01.2002
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK -
Dalhousie University
01.1992
BACHELOR of ARTS - PSYCHOLOGY
Dalhousie University
01.1990
Skills
- Clinical supervision
- Program management
- Team leadership
- Human resource management
- Community outreach
- Emotional intelligence
- Active listening
- Rapport building
- Time management
- Strategic planning
- Team collaboration
- Teamwork
- Training development
- Organizational skills
- Effective communication
Affiliations
New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, 1992 - present
Awards
- Margaret Cragg Award, 2000
- Kavanaugh Scholarship, 2001
- Dr. David Stephen Memorial Award of Distinction, 2005 - Recognition for Excellence in the Prevention of Child Abuse
Military Experience
1994 - 2014, Canadian Armed Forces, Instrumentalist in the armed forces band performing in military and community functions.
Volunteer Experience
- PRESIDENT, Community Camps Association, 1994 - 2010
- VICE-PRESIDENT, Second Stage Safe Haven, 1996 - 2010
- Member, PSSC – Forest Hills School, 2004 - 2011
- CHAIRPERSON, Living Waters Child Development Center, 2002 - 2023
- Volunteer, Forest Hills Baptist Church, 2000 - 2015
- Big sister/mentor, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Hobbies and Interests
- Community involvement
- Running
- Music (piano, clarinet and guitar)
- Social advocation
Training
- Suicide Intervention Training Certificate, 1991, 2000
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, 1995
- Forensic Interviewing – Dr. John Yuille, 2002
- CORE 100 Child Welfare Training, 2003
- Writing Skills for Case Documentation, 2003
- Dog Bite Prevention and safety training, 2004
- Stepping into Supervision, 2005
- Investigative Interviewing – Phases 1, 2 and 3, 2006, 2007
- Introduction to Signs of Safety, 2007
- Fostering Respectful Workplaces, 2007
- INSIGHT training, 2007
- Working with Children with Anxiety and Depression, 2007
- ASIST training, 2008
- Family Centered Practice for Child Welfare Supervisors, 2008
- CORE 500 Series for Clinical Child Protection Supervisors, 2008
- Partnering with Families to Achieve Safety and Security for children- Michael Doolan, 2008
- Interest Based Conflict Resolution, 2008
- Introduction to Family Group Conferencing, 2008
- Behavioral Strategies for working with Children – Dr. Ross Greene, 2008
- Introduction to Child Protection Mediation, 2008
- Immediate Response Conferences, 2009
- Solution focused interventions – Child Protection Supervisors, 2010
- Structured Decision Making, 2010, 2012
- Safety Assessments and Comprehensive Risk Assessments, 2010
- Attendance support training for supervisors, 2014
- Occupational Health and Safety Educational Program for Managers, 2014
- New Brunswick Custody Evaluation Workshop- Advanced Practice and Skills –Dr. Robin Deutsch, 2017
- Performance Managements Systems, 2015, 2016
- Intimate Partner Violence within Child Protection: Engaging Families for Safety, 2017
- While Belt Training, 2017
- CPT for PTSD, 2024
Timeline
Clinical lead
Family Plus life solutions
03.2025 - 11.2025
Manager of Clinical Services
KV Psychology and Wellness Clinic
09.2023 - 03.2025
Employee Assistance Program Counsellor
Health Canada
01.2020 - Current
Program Delivery Manager – Child Welfare
Department of Social Development
01.2015 - 10.2023
Private Therapist/Practitioner
01.2005 - Current
Counsellor
Gentle Path counseling Services
01.2005 - 01.2023
Supervisor – Child Protection Unit
Department of Social Development
01.2005 - 01.2015
Child Protection Social Worker
Family and Community Social Services
01.1993 - 01.2005
MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK - Individual and the Family, Family and Child Welfare, Family Violence
Dalhousie University
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK -
Dalhousie University
BACHELOR of ARTS - PSYCHOLOGY
Dalhousie University