Shelter Support Worker- Health & Wellness Counsellor

Employment Type : Full-Time, Permanent

Work Hours : 35 hours per week

Salary : $52,348 (L6), plus comprehensive benefits

Location : Toronto, Ontario Internal Application Deadline : Wednesday, June 26, 2024

External Application Deadline : Friday, June 28, 2024

JOIN OUR TEAM

YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected.

We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and / or Two-Spirit.

We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

As a specialist in the area of mental health and addictions support, the Shelter Support Worker Health and Wellness Counsellor works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression.

She acts as a resource to staff and clients and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes crisis counselling and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO WOMEN’S SHELTER

YWCA Women’s Shelter provides safe and secure emergency shelter for women and their children who are fleeing violence. The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day and supports 9 families and one single woman.

In addition to shelter, families are offered case management support and enriching group and community activities to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced and begin to establish lives that are free of violence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Applies knowledge of the issues of trauma and the dynamics of woman abuse to develop and implement effective support strategies;
• Participates in case conferences and acts as an advocate on behalf of residents and provides case management support services to residents
• Uses mediationand counselling skills to maintain a co-operative, supportive and productive house environment
• Applies knowledge, stays current and demonstrates skill in the area of mental health and addictions and acts as a resource to staff and clients;
• Liases with staff from other agencies and participates in inter-agency meetings to improve services delivery and client care where appropriate
• Works with women individually and / or in groups to establish a plan that will facilitate a safe and effective path to independence;
• Develops , implements and evaluates psycho-educational and mutual -aid goups that address resident’s mental health and addictions issues as well as trauma and woman abuse issues
• Enages with the staff team in reflective practise, to ensure the development and implementation of quality programs and services
• Completes administrative duties as outlined in YWCA Women’s Shelter policies and procedures
• Assists with orientation / training of relief staff , students and volunteers and shares on call duties

QUALIFICATIONS

In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a clinically supervised undergraduate degree (e.

g. BSW, Psychology). An analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework.

• Cases for Equivalency will be considered);
• Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to mental health, addictions and trauma;
• 1 to 3 years experience in counselling and mutual-aid group work focused on mental health and addictions issues and trauma with clients at risk and its effects on women and children ;
• Working knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
• Knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health and addictions;
• In depth knowledge of the dynamics of woman abuse and trauma;
• Knowledge of mental health and addiction systems and resources as well as basic understanding of DSM;
• Demonstrated experience in the development, delivery and evaluation of workshops and groups;
• Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and the Internet;
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues, child development and parenting;
• A certificate in trauma counseling, addictions counseling or other related skill areas would be an asset;
• Knowledge of a second language and / or culture would be an asset.
13 days ago