Transitional & Housing Support Program Counsellor - Toronto, Canada - Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Transitional & Housing Support Program Counsellor

12-month contract

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers legal services and representation, trauma-informed counselling and multilingual interpretation to diverse women (self-identified), non-binary, intersex, and Two-Spirit people who have experienced violence.

We cultivate skills and resilience by fostering safety, dignity and equality and we amplify voices to create individual and collective change.

Together with our donors and volunteers, we are active in changing the conditions that create environments of violence and oppression.

The Clinic's Counselling Department is seeking a full-time Transitional and Housing Support Program Counsellor for a 12-month contract.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.

COUNSELLING:

Assesses client needs and completes risk assessment and safety planning with clients
Provides crisis counselling, deescalation counselling and grounding interventions
Offers traumainformed support
Develops plans and sets goals with clients
Helps facilitates groups

2. CLIENT SUPPORT

Facilitates support assistance with agencies such as Legal Aid, Access to Housing, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
Provides practical and emotional support and accompanies women to court, and when they visit other community agencies or as they assess housing options
Matches clients with desired locations, connects them with resources in the area and ensures safety and adjustment in the new community
Provides information and support to clients as they navigate through social services and justice systems
Works in partnership with landlords from the public and private sector to ensure clients maintain their residence
Conducts case conferences with clients and involved agencies to support client needs
Advocates on behalf of clients with lawyers during the court process

3. AGENCY AND TEAM SUPPORT

Participates on agency committees and contributes to events which include participating in clinical meetings and staff meetings
Communicates with team members to share critical information, provide debriefing opportunities and resolve problems
Represents the Clinic and volunteers on a variety of committees or at events to promote the Clinic, share information and resolve problems
Utilizes an antioppressive approach with clients and colleagues

4. ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL

Advocates on behalf of clients to provide support and warm referrals
Assesses client needs and provides information and referrals
Conducts research to identify services for referral and makes referrals
Conducts telephone intake, which includes assessing client needs and safety
Consults with Counsellors and Legal Department regarding available services and client needs
Follows up with clients to see how they are and receives feedback related to referrals
Prioritizes calls based on safety, date received and crisis situations

5. ADMINISTRATION & OTHER

Key enters information to document calls in the agency database
Wordprocesses intake notes, and requests and referrals to client management system EMHware
Composes and word processes support letters for clients
Complies with Clinic and funder policies and procedures
Performs other tasks as assigned by management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduate or postgraduate in relevant field with a minimum of two years' experience delivering transitional and housing support from a traumainformed approach to survivors of genderbased violence
Experience with intake, risk assessment and safety planning; thorough knowledge of social service and social welfare systems
Experience providing information and referrals specific to the needs of women fleeing violence
An understanding of the issues and dynamics related to the provision of transitional and housing support services to women who have experienced interpersonal violence consistent with a trauma informed feminist, antiracist, antioppression analysis
Experience working with human trafficking survivors
Strong advocacy skills are a musthave for this position
Experience working in a diverse work setting and with a diverse client population
Intermediate computer skills
Excellent administrative and letter writing skills
Be a selfstarter and highly motivated
Excellent communication and conflict management skills
Fluency in a second language would be considered a tremendous asset

CORE COMPETENCIES

Commitment to working collaboratively with and supporting women of diversity within the context of a diverse agency
Engagement in a selfreflective, ethical, and collaborative practice that is nonjudgmental and empathic and reflects the vision and mission statements of the Clinic
Incorporation of principles of diversity and equity in responding to the service needs of women
Commitment to working toward removing systemic barriers to women's independence and wellbeing
Excel