Counsellor - Toronto, Canada - City of Toronto

City of Toronto

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Job ID: 36543

Job Category:
Community & Social Services

Division & Section:
Housing Secretariat, Housing Stability Services

Work Location:2985 Kingston Road, Scarborough, Ontario

Job Type & Duration:
Full-Time, Temporary (10 months) vacancy

Hourly Rate:
$ $44.37

Shift Information:
Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Affiliation:
L79 Full-time

Number of Positions Open: 1

Posting Period:19-Apr-2023 to 03-May-2023

Eviction Prevention in the Community

(EPIC) program team as a Counsellor.

Building on the City's commitment to expand preventative approaches to homelessness, the EPIC program assists

vulnerable households facing imminent risk of eviction by offering intensive case management services to prevent the loss of housing and avert the need for emergency shelter services.

To achieve successful housing outcomes for clients, the work requires rapid and responsive service delivery.

As such, daily access to a personal vehicle is required to attend client visits, meetings with landlords and with other community agency service providers.

In this fast paced environment, you are expected to balance complex and competing priorities throughout the day, and may be required to travel to various areas of the City within the same work day.

The role may also require you to work flexible hours to match the availability of clients, landlords and/or other stakeholders.

Your keen assessment and case management skills, knowledge of community resources, and navigation of internal / external systems are critical, as this program is outcome driven.

Reporting to the Supervisor Social Assistance, the Counsellor is a member of the EPIC case management team and carries a caseload that will support clients to achieve housing stability.

Major Responsibilities:

The primary functions associated with this position include but are not limited to:

Conducts assessments of client needs to confirm eligibility for service/assistance
including homelessness prevention services, support transitions to housing, and/or rehousing supports. Obtains required information and completes appropriate documentation. Provides crisis intervention when necessary.
Determines, develops and recommends courses of action based on legislation, divisional policies and procedures to support clients
Counsels and supports the individual and/or families as to the best alternatives and/or course of action. Assists with, or coordinates referrals to address immediate needs and issues related to the client's housing security.
Provides supportive counselling to clients/families
Advocates on behalf of individuals/clients for support, services, and benefits with internal and external resources, and engages in active problem solving around each client's challenges.
Refers individuals and/or households to the appropriate internal and external programs, services and agencies.
Coordinates referrals to outside agencies, purchased services and City services by preparing forms, writing reports, presenting clients' cases and informing involved staff of relevant information.
Monitors individuals' and/or families' progress by conducting additional visits to discuss any changes. Liaises with agencies and services involved. Modifies action plans, as required.
Writes reports, prepares correspondence and maintains case documentation. Documents all information, occurrences and prepares statistics related to case histories.
Maintains records, charts, files, waiting list, etc. Prepares communication material for clients/agencies, as necessary.
Develops and coordinates educational workshops for clients/community agencies as required. Distributes relevant materials and information.
Develops and conducts group sessions. Develops objectives and appropriate evaluations of the impact of each session on the client service outcomes.
Participates in program/design evaluation, including the review, implementation, standardization of program specific work practices and client service improvements.
Coordinates and/or attends case conferences to review individuals' and/or families' goals, outstanding needs, program suitability, develop client case plans, identify expected outcomes
Works as a part of a larger team to identify client needs and assist the client in accessing appropriate programs and services through building effective working relationships with both social and private market housing providers, community agencies and City services
Consults and coordinates client progress with other appropriate staff
Maintains current knowledge of legislation, community services, resources, policies, programs, procedures and issues affecting client populations.
Assist clients in developing a plan of action to achieve housing stability from a Housing First and Harm Reduction framework
Plans and implements the initial client assessment, case plan, case plan evaluation, discharge and follow up