Mental Health Counselor

External/Internal posting

Job Title: Mental Health Counselor

Job ID #: IHS MHCP 24-0402

Department: Integrated Health Services

Reports to: Manager, Mental Health and Harm Reduction

Salary Range: (CS4) $33.25 to $41.25 per hour

Status: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Vacancy: 1

Who we are:

Sherbourne is a leading provider of quality health care and transformative support to people who face social, economic, and other systemic barriers. Our mission is to be a dynamic provider of integrated health services, community programs and capacity-building initiatives that enable people and diverse communities to achieve wellness.

Sherbourne provides innovative health care and social services to the diverse urban population of southeast Toronto. While our doors are open to everyone, we focus on people experiencing homelessness or who are under-housed; 2SLGBTQ+, and newcomers to Canada. We are funded by the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, Ministry of Community, Children and Social Services, the City of Toronto and many generous donors and foundations.

About the role:

The Mental Health Counselor is a member of the Mental Health and Integrated Health Services Team and provides services and support to 2SLGBTQ community members; immigrants, refugees and newcomers to Canada; and people who are homeless and under-housed, with a broad range of mental health, emotional health and/or substance use issues.

Working at Sherbourne

At Sherbourne Health, we care about our staff and recognize that our biggest strength is our people. We have a solid commitment to life-long learning which is demonstrated through our professional development program. We invest in collective work and staff training to improve client care. We supplement this by creating a low-barrier work environment built on equity and respect, while working together in caring, cohesive teams and providing opportunities for advancement.

We believe in work-life balance and offer:

• A competitive salary.
• Membership in Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).
• Up to four weeks of vacation per year (to start).
• Up to four personal days per year.
• An extended healthcare and dental package.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• An employee assistance plan.
• A generous professional development plan: up to $1,300 to be used towards learning activities.
• Up to six fully paid professional development days per year – related to position/responsibilities.

Day to day responsibilities:

Direct Service:

• Provides holistic assessment and support services to individuals presenting with mental/emotional health or substance use issues.
• Ensures that appropriate treatment plans are developed, implemented, and evaluated in collaboration with clients.
• Monitors client progress adjusting plans as necessary, links to and coordinates required services while coordinating client care.
• Offers counseling or therapy services through both our Brief Therapy Service and our Psychotherapy Service or makes referrals to a more suitable service outside Sherbourne.
• Assists clients to access community supports, housing, welfare, legal or other social or health services and advocates on their behalf where needed.
• Active member of a multidisciplinary team:
• Participates in regular client conferences;
• Engages in discussion of possible resolutions to client care issues;
• Discusses initiatives and improvements to increase the quality of service provided to clients.
• Works with clients and community groups to diminish social isolation and promote participation in community networks and activities.
• Provides clients with opportunities to evaluate their progress and make choices regarding treatment/healing alternatives.
• Develops, delivers and evaluates groups or workshops in partnership with other staff or other community organizations.
• Completes forms, reports, and statistics as required by professional guidelines and Sherbourne policies.
• Communicates effectively with other team members/caregivers to ensure optimum care within the boundaries of confidentiality and appropriate disclosure.
• Acts as a resource to staff regarding mental health issues and participates with the multidisciplinary team in care planning.
• Participates actively in the training of students from all disciplines.

Professional, Community and Program Development, Education and Research:

• Identifies gaps in services or problems in service delivery and works with team members, other organizations and client groups to promote new or improved services.
• As requested, attends organizational and community networks and committees to work on issues that are relevant to Sherbourne’s priority populations.
• Participates in the development of policies and strategies that assist clients and communities to address the broad determinants of health.
• Interest and ability to participate in research projects and education programs.
• Contributes to professional and public education by providing workshops, reports, articles and consultation.
• Maintains a current knowledge of community resources pertinent to Sherbourne’s priority populations.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of new approaches, social policies and relevant legislation through active professional development and study.
• Seeks out and participates in their own ongoing education and participates in professional activities that will enhance and develop their own professional growth.
• Participates in training/professional development at Sherbourne and externally to ensure competence and best practices.

Administration:

• Ensures that required documentation is available on the client’s health record in a timely manner that meets professional standards of practice and Sherbourne’s policies.
• Performs administrative tasks as related to the position, such as time management, scheduling, documentation, report preparation and other duties as required.
• Collects and records required client data for statistical reporting and analysis.
• Collaborates with team members to plan and implement Sherbourne initiatives and follows established policies and procedures.
• Makes recommendations and contributes to policy formulation.
• Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and standards of practice for service delivery with a continuous quality improvement focus.
• Maintains current knowledge of relevant government acts and legislation.
• Participates actively in Sherbourne meetings, committees, special events, etc as required.

To thrive in this role, you’ll need:

Education/Experience:

• Education at the master’s level in social science or health discipline OR equivalent formal training.
• Current registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists or a relevant professional college that falls under the Regulated Health Professionals Act.
• At least 3 years’ experience as a therapist or counselor working with Sherbourne’s priority populations.
• Minimum at least 3 years direct service experience working with people marginalized by intersecting issues such as homophobia, transphobia, stigma, discrimination, poverty, violence, immigration, refugee status, sexism, or homelessness, preferably in a community setting.

Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge and experience of harm reduction, trauma-informed approaches, addictions and mental health.
• Knowledge of policies, legislation, programs and issues related to working with Sherbourne’s priority populations.
• Excellent assessment skills and sound clinical judgment.
• Ability to understand and apply principles of crisis and suicide intervention and critical incident stress debriefing (basic and advanced).
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in group design, delivery and facilitation.
• Strong brief intervention skills such as solution focused, cognitive behavioural or dialectical behavioural approaches.
• Must have demonstrated competence in clinical skills, including psychosocial assessments, counseling interventions, such as brief intervention skills, and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team approach.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both verbally and in writing with professional and allied professional staff and clients.
• Commitment to working within an anti-oppression/equity/access framework.
• Must have excellent organizational skills and professional comportment.
• Ability to work in a language in addition to English is an asset.
• Demonstrates a commitment to healthy and safe workplace for self and others (staff, patients, families, etc.) by taking all reasonable precautions and working in compliance with Sherbourne related policies, health and safety legislation and best practices.

Conditions of Employment:

• Offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory outcome of background checks i.e., professional references, education verification, criminal background check, and vulnerable sector check.
• Understands and works within the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation.

Working Conditions:

• The Mental Health Counselor works in the primary care clinical area. Given the nature of the role they may face interruption and disruption to any established daily routines. The Mental Health Counsellor may be required to intervene with difficult situations involving people who use drugs and/or alcohol, and/or have mental health challenges. Some evening and/or weekend hours will be required. It is crucial that all client and organizational information is kept confidential at all times.

To Apply: Please forward a cover letter and resume (saved as one document) quoting Job ID # IHS MHCP 24-0402 to myjob@sherbourne.on.ca along with the internal application form by April 11, 2025.

Sherbourne is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. This includes diversity in languages spoken, culture, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

BOLD.KIND. REAL.OPEN.WE CARE.

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