Short-Term Counsellor
One Year Full-Time Contract
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers trauma-informed legal services and representation, counselling, and multilingual interpretation, and drives system transformation to support women and gender diverse people who have experienced violence. Rooted in the foundations of intersectionality, innovation, and a client-centered approach, we foster the skills and resilience of the people we serve and amplify their voices to create individual and collective change.
The Clinic is currently seeking a Short-Term Counsellor who will provide counselling, safety planning and group facilitation for clients who have experienced gender-based violence. The short-Term Counsellor will offer brief and targeted counseling services to individuals dealing with specific issues or challenges. Rather than engaging in long-term therapy, the Counsellor will provide immediate support, practical guidance, and coping strategies to address the client’s concerns. This Short-Term counseling is solution-focused and aims to help clients achieve tangible goals within a limited timeframe. The counselor will work collaboratively with clients to identify and implement strategies for positive change, offering support for a short period to address their specific needs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
All duties and responsibilities will be carried out in accordance with Barbra Schlifer Clinic’s Mandate, Mission and Values Statements.
SHORT-TERM COUNSELLING
- Provides short-term counselling (6-12 sessions) with a focus on trauma-informed and solution-focused lens
- Supports Intake and the Counselling Department with safety planning and crisis situations
- Prioritizes response based on safety, date received and crisis situations
Screens requests based on the Clinic’s mandate - Conducts telephone and in-person intakes which include assessing client personal, legal, and social needs and provides options related to safety protection and referrals pertaining to legal rights
- Implements risk assessments and safety plans by delivering timely interventions and supports for clients in immediate need
- Provides information and referrals to other organizations when a request does not fall within the Clinic’s mandate or
there is no space in the Clinic’s programs, and advocates on behalf of clients - Provides counselling, de-escalation, containment and grounding interventions
- Assesses needs and goals for counselling
- Conducts assessments to determine program match to clients
- Offers client-centered, trauma-informed short-term counselling
- Supports groups, facilitates groups as a leader and as a support to external facilitators
- Provides supportive counselling for clients in a group and facilitates discussion around issues of violence and trauma
- Encourages clients to connect with their feelings and understand the impact of violence
- Maintains up to date client records on client management system (EMHware)
- Alerts appropriate department management to emergency client situations
- Initiates consultation with the Director of Counselling Services or her designate on complicated, high-risk cases
- Performs other tasks as assigned by management
COORDINATION
- Plans for group sessions and coordinates room and refreshments for group sessions
- Coordinates childcare and interpretation services for clients
- Coordinating team consults, high risk service coordination meetings with client’s circle of care, and transfer of care meetings
- Scheduling client pickups, arranging for group packages and coordinating with front desk for scheduling of client
services and group related activities
AGENCY AND TEAM SUPPORT
- Conducts research and creates and facilitates workshops on violence against women, which includes providing case consultation to other service providers about client needs
- Communicates with team members to share information, provide debriefing opportunities, and resolve problems
- Participates on agency committees and contributes to events which include participating in clinical meetings and staff meetings
- Create client feedback forms and surveys for individual and group counselling for statistics, funders, and improvement of services and future groups
- Apply appropriate counselling procedures and framework
- Collaboration between different departments and roles (eg. THSP, legal, interpretation)
- Represents the Clinic and volunteers on a variety of committees or at events to promote the Clinic
- Complies with Clinic and funder policies and procedures
ADMINISTRATION
- In consultation with Director of Counselling, prepares support letters for service confirmation, and maintains case notes
- Completes and submits monthly timesheets and other reports as required
- Drafts letters for psychosocial assessments for refugee claimants and consults with Manager of Counselling
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- The Short-Term Counsellor will be a collaborative and supportive member of the Counselling Department and will work collaboratively with other staff as appropriate
- The position will report to and be supervised by the Director of Counselling Services or her designate
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Degree in field related to Counselling (BSW, MSW, M.Ed, social service worker, etc)
- Minimum 2 years’ experience with the following:
- Risk assessment and safety planning for clients with a high level of potential lethality
- Experience facilitating closed and open groups for clients who have experienced gender-based violence using a trauma-informed approach; assessment of program match and individual /group readiness
- Experience working with clients with addictions, mental health and trauma
- Experience counselling survivors of gender-based violence and clients who are survivors of sexual abuse (childhood, adult)
- Experience counselling racialized /religiously marginalized clients including newcomers
- Experience in short-term counselling with knowledge of somatic resourcing and interventions, such as containment and grounding
- Must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the issues and dynamics related to the provision of counselling services for survivors who have experienced violence, consistent with a trauma-informed, feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppression analysis, framework and approach
- Must demonstrate excellence in client record keeping on a digitized software program; knowledge of EMHware would be considered an asset
- Strong communication and listening skills
- Demonstrated knowledge of safe and effective use of self in the counselling relationship
- Fluency in French or a second language or cultural affiliation with visible minority groups would be considered assets
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Commitment to working collaboratively with and supporting clientele of diversity within the context of a diverse agency
- Engagement in a self-reflective, ethical and collaborative practice that is non-judgmental 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 clients
- Commitment to working toward removing systemic barriers to survivor’s independence and wellbeing
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work and support others in the context of a diverse environment
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary environment
- Be a self-starter, creative and highly motivated
- Share ideas and differences in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation
- Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development
SALARY: $52,260 and includes a comprehensive benefits package offered through a group plan as part of our United Way membership, following a successful probationary period
DEADLINE FOR RESUMES: Friday February 15, 2024 (posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is engaged)
APPLICATION: Submit your cover letter and resume in ONE attachment to: [email protected] with the subject line of Short-Term Counsellor. In your cover letter, please indicate where you found our job posting.