PROGRAM: Mental Health
COMPANY: Skills for Change
LOCATION: 791 St. Clair Ave West, Toronto ON (Satellite office in Halton Region)
REPORTS TO: Supervisor, Mental Health and Counselling Services
CONTRACT TYPE: Contract (Union)
HOURS: 20 hours per week (Monday- Friday)
RATE: $21.69
START DATE: Immediately
END DATE: 34 weeks from start date (not beyond March 31, 2022)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
With 38 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected non-profit charity with a province wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for skilled trades, women, and youth. We have 5 locations across the GTA and serve 16,000 clients annually.
Reporting to the Supervisor, Mental Health and Counselling Services, this role involves coaching, counselling, mentoring and providing appropriate mental health and well-being interventions to support immigrant seniors residing in Halton Region, and primarily targets racialized and/or low-income seniors who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic using an anti-oppression, anti-racist and inclusive framework. Counsellor, Mental Health and Wellness will assess and provide comprehensive supports in areas such as mental health, food, housing, emergency financial benefits, safety, prevention and referrals where identified to support newcomer seniors.
The ideal candidate has:
◉ Experience and sensitivity in dealing with members of different cultural and racial backgrounds, including visible and invisible dimensions of diversity
◉ Demonstrated commitment to high standards of culturally responsive service delivery within an anti-racism and anti-oppression framework
◉ Knowledge of social issues, immigrant issues, social isolation, issues faced by senior, sexual assault and VAW
◉ Knowledge of community resources and services relating to mental health services
◉ Demonstrated ability in using discretion in dealing with highly sensitive and confidential issues
◉ Understanding of and extensive experience in crisis response
◉ Proficiency in planning, implementing and evaluating group activities
◉ Good organizational skills, ability to multi-task while maintaining a high level of accuracy
◉ Demonstrated high degree of initiative, judgment and problem solving ability
◉ Intermediate to master level skills in Microsoft and Google Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
◉ Working knowledge of Salesforce (database systems)
◉ Excellent oral and written English communication skills
◉ Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends if required
RESPONSIBILITIES:
◉ Provide individual short-term problem-solving support and long-term stability plan for populations including newcomers, immigrants, refugees, racialized groups, seniors, LGBTQ2S, adults, youth, victims of violence, low-income communities through identifying the presenting problems, goals and available options
◉ Participate in ongoing training & development in areas related to abuse & counselling, either self-directed or formal, as well as related topics, such as mental health, addictions, or coping strategies
◉ Provide case management services by coordinating with the appropriate additional supports and services needed to ensure optimum progress
◉ Design, promote and organize various workshops, information sessions and webinars related to issues due to COVID 19 pandemic, dealing with trauma, employment supports, building confidence and planning for the future
◉ Provide crisis response and intervention as necessary through telephone, video conferencing or face-to-face contact, in the client’s preferred environment
◉ Conduct client intake by performing duties such as obtaining demographic information, providing information regarding services offered through programs, assisting clients in completing intake forms, assessing needs, level of risk, and suitability for the program, and explaining issues related to confidentiality
◉ Provide counselling and intervention supports for clients who are victims of sexual assault/domestic violence through active listening, debriefing experiences, validating feelings, and respecting client choices and decisions.
◉ Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions, and clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and progress of defined objectives
◉ Deliver information workshops related to mental wellness, stress management and provide life skills training as needed
◉ Provide counselling and support in emergency situations
◉ Conduct support groups, peer networking and wellness checks
◉ Conduct outreach activities to newcomer communities to increase awareness of the service
◉ Participate in team meetings, as well as other internal and external committees as required
◉ Make appropriate referrals to longer term community support services and/or mental health services as required
◉ Develop, document and report on client outcomes
◉ Prepare and submit monthly statistical reports, progress reports and evaluation of program results as required
◉ Propose suggestions to improve the program delivery
◉ Meet assigned program and organizational goals
◉ Work collaboratively with other programs within Skills for Change
◉ Other duties as required by the Supervisor and Management
QUALIFICATIONS
◉ Masters’ Degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychology or related field is required
◉ Minimum 2 years of experience in group and individual counselling or crisis support work with families, with an emphasis on refugee/newcomer/immigrant/senior clients required
◉ Must be registered as a certified counsellor with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
◉ Must hold a valid First Aid Certificate
◉ A clear, mandatory vulnerable sector check must be presented prior to employment
◉ Second language is considered an asset
PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO:
hr@skillsforchange.org
Skills for Change provides learning and training opportunities for immigrants, refugees and equity seeking groups to access and fully participate in the workplace and wider community to persons with disabilities to newcomers to Canada (including refugees) to Indigenous peoples to members of a visible minority to children or youth to seniors to the LGBTQ2 community.
Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in alternate format on request.