Residential Counsellor- Contract

**Full-time**

**6 month contract (or return of incumbent)**

**Residential Counsellor**

**USW Bargaining Unit**

**Local 8327**

Leeds & Grenville Interval House is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing services to women and children who have experienced violence & abuse. LGIH provides emergency shelter, counselling and supportive services to women and their children living in the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville.

A contract Residential Counsellor works shift rotations Monday-Friday Days (7am-3pm) Bridge (11am-7pm) Afternoons (3pm-11pm) and Nights (11pm-7am).

Reporting to the Residential Manager - the Residential Counsellor will be part of the LGIH team that provides support, referrals and advocacy to women and their children residing at Interval House. The counsellor’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Provide interventative counselling to women and children who have experienced and/or are experiencing trauma, including individuals who are impacted by and/or continue to experience physical, emotional, sexual, and intergenerational violence in person and on our 24-hour crisis line.
- Weekly case management with assigned clients, including paperwork, referrals to community and partner agencies for added support and case management,
- Facilitate weekly residential meetings, chore assignment, mediation and conflict resolution amongst clients creating safety plans, positive parenting plans, etc.
- Assess risk and safety for new clients and provide ongoing safety planning.
- Foster and maintain a trauma-informed approach in their work with clients and colleagues.
- Supporting and assisting women as they work through the steps of their transitional plans.
- Identifying and discussing the resources required to achieve a woman’s transitional goals and to assist and obtain the required resources.
- Referrals to counselling services, including social assistance, legal aid, parenting support, education and training, health services, etc.
- Advocacy with third parties, such as with FCS, social assistance, lawyers, police, etc.
- Support LGIH in remaining current and active in harm reduction policy development and community advocacy.
- Provide guidance for maintaining housing, including budget management and life skills.
- Provide ongoing support to clients around communal living.
- Maintain compliance with all LGIH policies, procedures, and Trauma-informed Practice.
- Perform administrative tasks, including maintaining complete case records, files, shift change logs, communication logs, release of information, and discharge summaries.
- Maintaining statistical information and resources as required.
- Perform related duties as assigned by Residential Manager or Executive Director.
- Maintaining safety and security of the shelter.
- Maintaining LGIH COVID 19 protocols, including physical distancing, cleaning/disinfecting and cooking.
- Monthly supervisions with Residential Manager
- Other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications:

- Post-secondary education in gender studies, social services, social work and work experience in the VAW sector (3-5 years).
- Case management experience (3-5 years)
- Knowledge of the impact of systemic marginalization on women and children, including sexism, racism, poverty, homophobia, transphobia, and dis/ability
- Strong assessment skills
- Demonstrated competencies including communication, innovative and creativity, teamwork, flexibility and adaptability, accountability, strategic and collaborative thinking.
- Demonstrated organizational ability to handle caseload requirements, compile statistical data and reports for review and evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain a mature and realistic approach to the social problems of the client being served and knowledge of and self-awareness around transference and counter-transference
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Knowledge of community-based service providers
- Understanding of the civil and criminal legal system and how it impacts on women’s & children’s lives
- Understanding of group dynamics
- Current CPR and First Aid training an asset.
- Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Checks (PVSC) with future checks every three (3) years.

Hours and Compensation: The position is scheduled 35 hours per week at an hourly rate to start of $27.32.

Applications will be received until March 13th, 2024 at 4pm.

Only those applicants who are chosen for an interview will be contacted. Please, no telephone calls.

These positions are for women only, relying on provisions to Section 23 (1) a. of the Ontario Human Rights code in setting the restriction.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 6 months

**Salary**: $27.32 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Monday to Friday
- Morning shift
- Night shift

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-03-13