Community Outreach Counselor (Part Time)
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible to the Executive Director and supervised by the Willow Place Clinical Supervisors, the Community Outreach Counselor is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating programs designed to provide holistic services for individuals experiencing or using family violence/abuse. The community outreach counselor provides short-term individual and group counseling to non-residential clients within a drop-in setting and in collaboration with community stakeholders. The counselor maintains a current and broad network of community-based and public sector services and stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. The counselor provides immediate crisis stabilization services as well as short-term support to assist clients achieve stable housing, economic stability, positive community connections and healthy relationships within a drop-in setting.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Undergraduate degree in the Human Services field such as a Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Completion of the Applied Counseling Certificate Program may be considered in combination with other related education and work experience.
· Demonstrated knowledge of family violence, gender-based violence, oppression and its impact on women, men and children.
· Demonstrated experience with the planning, implementation and evaluation of a new program model.
· Demonstrated understanding and experience with providing drop-in counselling services.
· Ability to incorporate current best practices in the field including harm reduction, strength based client-centered approaches and working with trauma.
· Minimum one year supervised counseling experience, including individual and group counseling.
· Excellent inter-personal communication, written communication and conflict resolution skills.
· Excellent problem solving, decision-making and analytical skills.
· Ability to work remotely with little supervision and under pressure in a stakeholder team environment and balance competing demands for time.
· Good time management and organizational skills.
· Excellent self-awareness, personal coping and self-care skills.
· Knowledge of community resources.
· Current Emergency First Aid and CPR Certificate.
· Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate.
· Satisfactory Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.
· Must have a class 5 license and access to a vehicle with All Purpose Passenger Vehicle Insurance.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
COUNSELLING:
· Provides short term, drop-in and outreach counselling services within the community in partnership with community stakeholders.
· Completes a structured comprehensive written intake and assessment for each client requesting services.
· Empowers clients to make informed choices by providing information, resources and opportunities to understand family and gender-based violence and by supporting them in developing and implementing a client-centered plan.
· Provides a progressive goal-oriented, holistic and multi-modality process for accomplishing goals, where appropriate.
· Reinforces or expands the problem-solving capacity of the client.
· Ensures each client has an up to date protection plan. The protection plan should include but not be limited to internet safety.
· Facilitates group counseling for outreach clients which may include staff, students and volunteers as co-facilitators.
THERAPEUTIC SERVICE:
· Assesses and develops individual need-based therapeutic plan and establishes a therapeutic relationship with clients from a strength-based perspective.
· Evaluates the effectiveness of therapeutic services provided by working in collaboration with the clients and refer them to appropriate resources and other professionals as and when required.
· Ensures that individual therapeutic interventions meet the requirements of the Standard Manual for Manitoba shelters and Service Purchase Agreement.
· Provides positive role modelling, which encourages women to problem solve and identify their inner strengths, capabilities and capacity to heal.
· Plans and conducts therapeutic groups on regular basis which may include both residential and outreach clients.
· Ensures all clients have an ongoing risk assessment and safety planning according to their individual needs.
· Provides services on the crisis line, which can include risk assessments, protection planning and other therapeutic interventions.
ADVOCACY:
· Provides information regarding community supports and opportunities. Where necessary acts as a liaison, advocate, and referral agent with outside agencies to provide coordination of services for clients.
· Provides education and information on abuse to outside agencies to improve services to clients as required
· Maintains a broad and current network of community agencies and services and represents Willow Place in a professional manner.
CLIENT RELATIONS:
· Proactively creates a space of unconditional positive regard that allows clients a safe space to focus on their own mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
· Models healthy relationship behaviors in all interactions in the work environment.
· Competently, respectfully and appropriately deals with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors without personalizing the behavior.
CASE MANAGEMENT/ PROGRAMMING:
Ensures clients(s) is included in their case plan. Each case plan should be strength based with measurable goals and outcomes. Each case plan must include risk assessments and ongoing safety planning.
· Responsible for reviewing the case plan and ensuring that timely updates and revisions are completed in collaboration with the participant and appropriate team members.
· In conjunction with the Clinical Supervisor(s) and the Executive director, ensures other program goals are current and measurable.
· Develops and maintains the content, process and materials for group facilitation as needed.
· Provides 3 hours of unscheduled counselling time (drop-in) each week per location.
· Provides scheduled outreach counseling services at all locations.
· In conjunction with the Supervisor(s) and the Director, ensures program goals for each service area are current and measureable.
· Participates in reviewing, revising and developing program components to enhance client service with the Supervisor(s) and the Director.
· Works collaboratively with the stakeholders to ensure that programming meets the needs of the community as well as the stakeholders.
· Offers input into formal and informal evaluation of programs.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
· Provides accurate professional file documentation and statistical entries for all clients on the WISH database. Completes required documentation before the end of each shift.
· Maintains and updates resource materials i.e. pamphlets, resource books, handouts and internet resources as time permits.
· Organizes workload and demonstrates effective time management.
· Maintains appropriate email files and email management.
TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES/STAFF DEVELOPMENT:
· Adheres to the values, guiding principles, policies and procedures of Willow Place and supports the strategic direction of the organization.
· Acts as an ambassador for Willow Place in the community.
· Participates in staff meetings and training offerings.
· Acts as a responsible team member by demonstrating initiative, completing work duties, and by maintaining clear, direct and respectful communication with all people in the work environment.
· Proactively stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. Participates regularly in staff development activities according to a learning and development plan identified through supervision and the on-going performance review process.
ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintains agency confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
· Engages in regular supervision with the Willow Place Supervisor(s).
· Represents Willow Place in a professional manner.
· Uses appropriate mechanisms for resolving inter-agency problems.
· Maintains ongoing positive public relations with outside agencies, groups, and individuals.
· Maintains a strictly confidential/professional relationship with clients.
** Any other duty(ies) as and when assigned by the management**
Job Types: Permanent, Part-time
Pay: $25.67-$33.89 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- Paid time off
- Wellness program
Application question(s):
- Do you have access to a reliable vehicle?
Licence/Certification:
- Class 5 Drivers License (required)
Work Location: In person
