Sexual Assault Support Counsellor

**Sexual Assault Support Counsellor**
- **Position**:_ Sexual Assault Support Counsellor
- **Worksite**:_ Sexual Assault Support Services for Women SDG&A
- **Responsible to**:_ Executive Director
- **Classification**:_ Full-time position
- **Deadline to apply**_ : August 25, 2023 at 4pm.

**Summary**:
Under the direction and supervision of the Executive Director the Sexual Assault Support Counsellor will provide ongoing counselling support to those who have experienced sexual assault who are 16 years of age or older. This program will be for adult women (inclusive of cis, non-binary and trans women) and youth. This service will respond to both recent and past sexual assault.

The counsellor will work from a trauma informed and client centered perspective with survivors of sexual assault. The counsellor will assess client’s needs and develop and implement counselling plans using a variety of therapeutic counselling techniques. The counsellor will be responsible for case management of clients and will work with individuals and small groups. The counsellor will provide clients with skill building practices.

These services are available to eligible clients from Cornwall, Dundas, Stormont, Glengarry and Akwesasne. This position requires occasional travel throughout SDG&A.

**Qualifications**:
**Education, Training, and Experience**
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, social services or related field (registration will be required, or working towards).
- Sound knowledge and understanding in gender-based violence and impacts of sexual assault

oTraining and experience in crisis management and trauma informed practice. Minimum two years of recent related experience.
- Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

**Job Skills and Abilities**
- Demonstrated teamwork and ability to work collaboratively.
- Ability to work with clients in a way that demonstrates a compassionate, respectful and client-centred approach that fosters dignity, individuality, and decision-making process of clients
- Knowledge and understanding of the impacts of sexual assault, sexualized violence, and gender-based violence.
- Demonstrated understanding, experience, and practice in gender-based violence, particularly through the lens of intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Ability to work with adult clients with diverse experiences and youths who have experienced sexual assault.
- Excellent oral, written, facilitation and interpersonal communication skills. o Effective interviewing and assessment skills.
- Excellent conflict resolution skills and experience in crisis intervention. o Demonstrates critical, innovative, and strategic thinking.
- Works in a respectful and cooperative manner with staff and clients.
- Clear understanding of measurable outcomes and program tracking.
- Excellent time and personal management skills.

**Additional Requirements**
- Criminal record check for vulnerable populations.
- First Aid/CPR.
- Valid Ontario Driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
- Adheres to the philosophy, policies, and procedures of SASS for Women SDG&A.
- Signs and adheres to Oath of Confidentiality and Code of Ethics.
- Bilingualism French/English an asset.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Gathers information relevant to the client’s problems by interviewing and observing behaviour, using a variety of inventories, checklists, and questionnaires. Conducts structured analyses of the information gathered to provide assessment of the issues.
- Develops and implements counselling plans and intervention using a variety of therapeutic counselling techniques drawn from theoretical frameworks such as family systems, solution focused, narrative, psycho-dynamic group work, and advanced counselling techniques to resolve the assessed issues.
- Uses a trauma informed perspective to support survivors of sexual assault or sexualized violence through active listening, debriefing, and validating client’s emotions.
- Monitors client’s progress and provides follow-up planning. o Evaluates the effectiveness of counselling plans, reports clients’ progress, and discusses case management and related concerns with therapists, social workers, peers, and other professionals, as appropriate and with client consent.
- Provides case management to ensure oversight of client’s progress and will provide. information on and refers clients to other SASS services and community service providers, resources and professionals as required.
- Maintains related records and statistics and provides reports regarding service delivery as required. o Performs other related duties as required.

**Accountability**
- Reports to and meets regularly with the Director to discuss the status of the program operations.
- Maintains current knowledge of and complies with SASS’s mandate **, **mission, policies, procedures, standards of practice and collective agreement.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of information gained