Substance Use Counsellor-Youth Justice Substance Abuse Program

Salary Rate : $45,500 Check out the YMCA’s !

Location : Mississauga YMCA

Work Hours : 37.5 hours

Employment Type : Salaried Contract-12 months

Number of Vacancies : 1

Anticipated Start Date : July 2, 2024

Deadline to Apply : Open Until Filled

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team and help us to achieve great things in our community!

YMCA Employment and Community Programs provide a variety of employment, counselling, outreach, intervention, training and newcomer programs to youth and adults throughout the GTA.

YMCA Youth Justice Substance Abuse program (YJSAP) is part of the YMCA Employment and Community Programs which together provide a variety of support services and counselling programs to youth ages 12-24 throughout the GTA.

It provides a variety of supports to youth experiencing homelessness and who are street-involved in the GTA (Toronto and Peel region).

Our Centres offer services including employment, housing, substance use, harm reduction, mental health and other related supports.

We are a LGBTQ2S+ positive space where all sexual orientations and gender diversity are welcome and celebrated. These services and supports are provided directly by the YMCA of Greater Toronto and community partners.

YJSAP employs resiliency, recovery, harm reduction, trauma-informed, and other strengths-based frameworks within our service delivery.

The Substance Use Counsellor will provide individual substance use counselling to youth ages 12-24 at the time of offence who have been found guilty and are currently on probation, conditional supervision or community supervision orders or young persons on detention status as part of a community release plan.

They will provide service designed to improve the social, emotional, psychological, cognitive and / or vocational functioning of young persons with problems of substance use and abuse.

Along with individual, family and / or group counselling services will be provided

In this role, you will :

• Provide brief solution focused and motivational interviewing counselling, case management and crisis intervention as needed, on and off site to youth via probation offices across various regions
• Conduct intakes, assessments, and referrals.
• Deliver presentations to probation offices, community youth agencies, schools, parents, professional and YMCA youth programs throughout various regions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client case notes and files.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date statistics for YMCA use as well as the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
• Establish connections and build relationships with other youth agency committees.
• Raise awareness of Substance Abuse services within the YMCA.
• Assist with continued program development.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings and professional development trainings as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring :

• S.W., B.A., College Counselling Diploma or other related degree / diploma
• At least two years experience working with youth at risk
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the substance use field, especially as it relates to youth at risk, homelessness, mental health, and harm reduction
• Training certificate in LGBTQ2S+ and trans-positivity or related experience
• knowledge and ability to integrate anti-oppression, critical disability, LGBTQ2S+ and trans-positivity, trauma, recovery approach in support to mental health and strengths-based principles into practice
• Familiarity with the youth service agencies and youth resources in Toronto / Scarborough
• Ability to speak a second language an asset
• Certification in GAIN Q3 assessment and knowledge of Catalyst an asset
• Embrace the YMCA Core Values of inclusiveness, caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty
• Strong organizational skills and ability to effectively prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to work in an efficient manner both independently and as part of a team
• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers
• Excellent written communication skills
• Excellent understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity including the ability to identify and address barriers, work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and integrate equity into program design
• Good computer skills in Microsoft Office and Power Point Presentations
• Valid Ontario drivers license and daily access to a vehicle
• Flexibility regarding assigned work schedule and locations, ability to regularly travel throughout the Peel, Halton, York, Kitchener / Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge areas
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as well as experience in leading and developing and implementing equity-focused initiatives that address systemic barriers

What you need to succeed :

• Commitment to the YMCA’s
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies : Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities.

We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities.

See what you can expect from the YMCA .

Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors.

Learn more in our 2020 2025 strategic plan, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team.

As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people / people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people / people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check.

Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks .

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our and see about working at the YMCA.