Mental Health Workshop Facilitator, Seniors Program

DEPARTMENT: Senior Programs
COMPANY: Skills for Change
LOCATION: 791 St. Clair Ave West Toronto
REPORTS TO: Supervisor, Mental Health, and Counselling Services
CONTRACT TYPE: Contract (Union)
HOURS: 18 hours per week (Monday-Friday) with occasional evenings/weekends
PAY RATE: $23.00
START DATE: Immediately
END DATE: Maximum of 25 weeks from start date
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
With 39+ 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 mental health and wellness, mentoring, employment, settlement, language training, together with specialized programs for trades, women, seniors, and youth.

PROGRAM NATURE AND SCOPE:
To provide high quality and responsive mental health and wellness workshops to support seniors from the GTA, Halton Region and surrounding areas. With the impact of COVID-19 and the increasing need, this role will work primarily with developing and delivering workshops to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of seniors, reduce isolation, access to social mentoring, networking, technology skills training and referrals for counselling from a certified Clinical Counsellor.

IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS:

• Proven experience in developing and delivering relevant mental health and wellness workshops that meet the needs of clients
• Experience and sensitivity in dealing with members of diverse 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 faced by seniors, immigrant issues, social isolation, 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
• Proficiency in planning, implementing, and evaluating group activities
• Good organizational skills, ability to multitask 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)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 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
• Deliver and develop specialized mental health and wellness workshops for short-term problem-solving and long-term stability planning for senior populations including newcomers, immigrants, refugees, racialized groups, LGBTQ2S+, victims of violence, low-income communities through identifying the presenting problems, goals, and available options
• Design, promote and organize various online and in-person workshops, information sessions and webinars related to issues due to COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with trauma, mental wellness, stress management, employment supports, building confidence and tools for future planning
• Register clients for workshops/information sessions/networking/mentoring activities
• Refer clients that identify the need for supportive/crisis counselling and intervention to the internal Clinical Counsellors
• Conduct outreach activities to increase awareness of the service and recruit eligible clients
• Actively participate in outreach activities and partnership development to enhance the program and increase visibility
• Maintain strict confidentiality as outlined in agency privacy and confidentiality policy; behave ethically
• Maintain program and participants records and statistics, and is accountable for inputting accurate data into SkeduleX, Salesforce and designated databases; produce narrative/statistical reports as requested; prepare and provide timely reporting/statics as required
• Participate in the evaluation of program effectiveness, interventions, and clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and progress of defined objectives
• Participate in ongoing training & development in areas related to mental health and wellness, either self-directed or formal, as well as related topics, such as mental health, addictions, or coping strategies
• Establish and maintain relationships with the team and other community agencies that provide specialized mental health, refugee settlement and social services
• Facilitate service coordination within SfC and other agencies to meet client needs
• Distribute survey and collect data related to the client satisfaction
• Case manages client files; document activities in client files, follow up on action plans, etc.
• Maintain files organized and available for review by the funder and management
• Participate in team meetings, as well as other internal and external committees as required
• Attend staff and committee meetings as required
• Other duties as required by Management

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• University degree or college diploma (or equivalent) in Social Work, Psychology or related field is required
• Requires a minimum of 2 years of experience developing and delivering learning and training programs (online, classroom)
• Strong interpersonal and client service skills as well as a positive attitude towards change
• Initiative and persistence to complete tasks as well as excellent time management and teamwork skills
• Experience working with vulnerable groups (low income, newcomers, women, youth, seniors, victims of abuse, etc.) sensitivity and knowledge in dealing with diverse cultural and racial backgrounds and with special needs
• Relevant direct experience working with seniors, newcomers and equity seeking communities
• In- depth knowledge/ understanding of the issues affecting seniors
• Experience operating from ant-racism, anti-islamophobia and anti-Black racism lens is critical
• Second language is considered an asset (French, Hindi, Farsi, Pashto, Yoruba, Swahili, Chinese etc.)
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Ability to provide a clear, mandatory vulnerable sector check must be presented prior to employment

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.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.