Shelter Counsellor

**_SHELTER COUNSELLOR _**:

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**DATE POSTED**:February 1, 2023 **NUMBER OF VACANCIES**:2
**REPORTS TO**:Supervisor, Direct Services **PAY TYPE**:Salaried
**POSITION**: Shelter Counsellor
- (L2) ****:

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**SCHEDULE_:_** _(2 positions) Weekend Dayshift - (Fri, Sat, Sun) Level 2 _
**LOCATION**: Markham, Aurora

**POSITION TYPE**:Union

The Yellow Brick House/ Project Hostel is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing services to women who have experienced violence and abuse. The Yellow Brick House provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, crises, and short-term supportive counselling to abused women and their children in York Region. We are a dedicated to providing services within a supportive environment that helps women and their children regain control of their lives.

**POSITION OVERVIEW**

To provide support to individuals identifying as female and their children who are temporarily residing in the shelter.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
**Direct Service**:

- Provide counselling to women traumatized by the abuse they have experienced on an as needed basis
- Acts as a resource to clients in the areas of mental health, harm reduction and the dynamics of gender-based violence
- Provides crisis intervention to residents by telephone, text, or in-person
- Conducts intake and discharge interviews with residents as required
- Assists individuals who identify as women to understand the cycle of violence and the effects of violence on themselves and their children
- Provides support to address individuals who identify as women’s needs in a communal living setting
- Overall monitoring of the shelter(s) to ensure safety for all residents and staff
- Liaise with community resources as necessary, in assisting and supporting residents throughout the shift (i.e. hospital, police, Children’s Aid Society, etc.)
- _Documentation: _
- Maintains daily confidential, pertinent, accurate and non-judgmental logging on each client as per Yellow Brick House procedures
- **Maintenance and Administration**: _
- Follow the duties and responsibilities specified under the Occupational Health & Safety Act

Sections 28
- Ensure adherence to established safety, quality, compliance, and housekeeping standards and participate in the continuous improvement process
- Attends mandatory and development training as required
- Ensure that health and safety standards of the office are met
- Ability to recognize and address building maintenance issues as needed.
- _Engagement _
- Communicate fully and openly with supervision; keeping supervisor fully informed of relevant client and staff member information, at all times
- Active positive participation in regular team meetings
- Maintain a positive approach and a professional manner at all times
- Keeps up-to date on issues relating to gender-based violence and evidence-based practices for intervention as it pertains to woman and children
- Maintain community awareness of Yellow Brick House programs throughout York Region
- Acts as a Brand Ambassador for the Yellow Brick House
- Other duties as assigned

**PERFORMANCE MEASURES**
- Accurate completion of all documentation as required
- Meet all Department goals and objectives
- Meet all timelines as established on assigned projects and daily administration

**QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED**
- Completion of a social services diploma
- 2 to 3 years’ experience working with a diverse clientele
- Mental health/addiction counselling experience would be an asset
- Knowledge and understanding of abuse/violence against women and children
- Language requirement preferred: Excellent English skills required, as well as other language used widely by Yellow Brick House client population (ie. Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin,

Farsi etc.)
- Must be able to work flexible hours including days, evenings and weekends
- Valid Driver's License and confirmation of $1M liability insurance.

**SKILLS REQUIRED**
- Familiar and comfortable with technology-assisted platforms, specifically video conferencing using MS teams, Zoom, etc
- Knowledge of WISH database management is an asset
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Internet and other standard platforms.

**CORE COMPETENCIES**
- Excellent interpersonal skills required in order to facilitate effective communication with clients, families, community and team members
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize a varied workload and meet deadlines
- Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to respond rapidly and decisively to crisis situations both in person and by telephone
- Demonstrated ability to work well individually and within a team structure
- Demonstrated cross cultural awareness and sensitivity particularly as it pertains to gender
- based violence.
- Ability to work within an anti-racism, anti-oppression framework

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
Works in a comfortable environment either inside or outside in typically pleasant conditions. Typical