Job Title: General Counsellor- Temporary

Employment Type: - Temporary Contract (6 months)

Hours of Work:  35 hrs. / Week,

Hourly Wage: $31.29

Department:  Counselling & Court Services               

Reports to:  Program Manager  

Classification:  Counsellor (Bargaining member position) 

About Us

Elizabeth Fry Toronto delivers gender based, trauma informed services and advocates for justice and equity for women and non-binary people who are criminalized and their families. We envision communities where women are not criminalized.

Job Summary

The General Counsellor- Temporary position is responsible for the development, administration and evaluation of General Counselling Services. Providing individual counselling and psycho-educational group intervention services on a variety of issues to women in the community, women with condition of sentencing from the courts and child protection services. In addition to providing direct service, the General Counsellor- Temporary Position will actively work to deliver the program according to best practice standards as well as liaise and build partnerships with courts and other community partners.  

The General Counsellor- Temporary Position will adhere to the agency’s values and service standards as well as program delivery and evaluation frameworks. Using a trauma-informed and harm reduction model of care, the Counsellor will ensure that service users accessing the programs are provided a warm, safe environment that fosters self-determination, healing, and growth. The incumbent will demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, initiative, collaboration, and solutions-oriented approach in the delivery of services.

Please note that this job is in-person with a limited amount of remote work. This dynamic position reports directly to the Manager, Counselling & Court Services.  Working within the mandated protocols the General Counsellor- Temporary position will be required to fulfill the following core duties:

Individual & Group Counselling

•         Provide client intake and assessments to determine client eligibility for individual or group counselling.

•         Provide individual and group counselling to clients addressing variety of issues.

•         Deliver programs through a client-centered, intersectional, feminist and trauma-informed lens.

•         Utilize crisis counselling and intervention where and when required.

•         Conduct mid and post assessment to gage successes and challenges.

•         Work with assigned caseload tracking client’s progress.

•         Conduct risk assessment and safety planning as per client’s needs.

•         Facilitate and co-facilitate groups and psycho-educational workshops quarterly.

•         Perform all key functions in relations to group preparation and completion.

•         Provide counselling on a variety of issues to women including GBV, DV, IPV, anger management, healing from abuse and trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) etc.

•         Provide services and supports to mothers reuniting with families’ post incarceration, provide strategies for building positive self-esteem in children and offer tools for effective parenting and communication with their children.

•         Provide psycho-educational workshops to newcomer women focusing on prevention of conflict with the law in the Canadian cultural and legal context.

Client Support

•         Identify and advocate on behalf of clients for support and services with internal and external resources, navigating through systemic barriers.

•         Build and liaise with the clients’ community supports to reduce risk of recidivism and enhance safety.

•         Liase with probation/parole officers, referral agencies, courts and other community agencies.

•         Engage in active problem solving around participants’ needs for services as they transition out of the program.

•         Provide information, resources, referrals and supports to program participants.

•         Maintain accurate and timely records of activities, case management notes, and services provided to each client, logging events and progress.

•         Update and revise client files at each point of contact in a timely manner to ensure the availability of up to date information.

Program Administration & Development

•         Maintain client files according to agency and funder requirements/guidelines.

•         Further develop and enhance the curriculum according to best practice guidelines.

•         Enter client data accurately and completely utilizing the agency’s existing data management system.

•         Maintain notes in data management system according to agency protocol.

•         Maintain client filing systems and correspondence in print and electronic formats.

•         Work closely with volunteers and students assisting the Counselling & Court Services program.

•         Evaluate the effectiveness of the program in collaboration with program manager.

•         Create all program procedural documents in consultation with manager.

•         Maintain program statistics and other reporting data as required completing monthly stats and program information as required.

•         Network with partners, stakeholders and other service providers.

•         Write progress and completion reports as required.

•         Evaluate the effectiveness of programing in collaboration with program manager and team.

•         Create all program procedural documents in consultation with manager.

•         Develop and maintain all program and participant scheduling.

•         Coordinate all counselling and group sessions including space booking, transportation needs etc.

Other

•         Participate on internal and external committees.

•         Assist colleagues with their programs when needed

•         Participate in on going professional development and assist in the orientation and training of new staff, students, peers and volunteers.

•         Attend all agency wide and team meetings to stay current with agency plans and share information with colleagues.

•         Respond to telephones enquiries and communicated information.

•         Maintain the confidentiality and security of client and agency related information.

•         Comply with agency Health & Safety plan.

•         Comply with agency policies and procedures.

•         Apply gender-responsive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive approaches to work.

•         Perform other tasks as assigned by management.

Qualifications and Skills

•         Degree or diploma in social work, community social services or combination of education and experience.

•         3-5 years’ counselling and facilitation experience working with women from diverse ethno-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

•         Strong knowledge working with transgender and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

•         Strong facilitation skills and client engagement experience.

•         Demonstrate understanding of client services and group principles.

•         Commitment to a trauma-informed, feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppression and harm reduction approach.

•         Knowledge of the criminal justice system, specifically pertaining to women.

•         Demonstrate good decision-making and problem solving skills using proper communication channels.

•         Excellent interpersonal, relationship management, oral, written communication skills and organizational skills required.

•         Ability to work both independently and within a in a team environment.

•         Advanced skills utilizing Microsoft Office software, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

•         Bilingual in French and/or any other language is an asset.

Application Instructions:

Please send a cover letter and resume in ONE document to . Applicants must list General Counsellor- Temporary in the cover letter and in the    subject line of the email. We appreciate all applications. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Elizabeth Fry Toronto, in accordance with its gender responsive anti-racism and anti-oppression framework, welcomes application from people who reflect the diversity of our community.