Women's Residential Weekend Counsellor Position

Herizon House is a 30 bed shelter for women and children leaving abusive relationships. We offer crisis intervention counselling, emergency shelter, a 24 hour crisis line, a transitional housing program, outreach programs and child & family programs. We are located in Durham Region. We are seeking talented, energetic and passionate staff to fill our part-time weekend team. This position will offer confidential support services to women and their children accessing Herizon House services and programs, in particular the 24 hour crisis line and shelter facility.

**This is a short-term contract with a possibility of extension.**

Herizon House is a CUPE unionized workplace.

Weekend staff work on a rotational basis. Shifts would follow the below 7 week rotation:
Week 1: Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

Week 2: Saturday & Sunday 9 am - 5 pm

Week 3: Saturday & Sunday 4:30 pm - 12:30 am

Week 4: OFF

Week 5: Saturday & Sunday 6 pm - 2 am

Week 6: Saturday & Sunday 12 am - 8 am (shifts ending Saturday morning and Sunday morning)

Week 7: OFF

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Working within your team you manage the day to day needs of the shelter residents and clients accessing Herizon House services.

Responsible to maintain a clean, healthy environment within the facility and ensure compliance with policies, procedures and health & safety requirements.
- Assessing/Reviewing each women’s risk and developing or using already developed safety planning and risk management documents with her
- Interact with clients throughout your shifts to review any case planning issues and work on her goals.
- Using feminist counselling techniques you will provide supportive counseling and referrals to all clients calling the crisis line.
- Conduct phone assessments to help determine service needs to decide if the client meets the mandate and either bring client into shelter or make appropriate referrals as necessary.
- Assess women and children’s immediate safety and health issues though the completion of the intake process.
- Provide appropriate and relevant referrals to community resources
- Using a collaborative approach advocate on behalf of clients as required
- Responsible for identifying key issues in the shelter and being aware of all client’s whereabouts to be documented in shift summary log.
- Plan and attend staff meetings when applicable.
- Ensure that all necessary resident files, forms and documentation are complete and up to date.
- Represent agency in a professional manner at all times.
- Contribute to the cleanliness of the shelter
- Light Meal Prep
- Other duties as required.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Post-secondary degree or diploma in Social or Human service/community or health sectors or a related field and/or a combination of education and work experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the issues related to Violence Against Women, intersectionality and gender based violence.
- Demonstrated skills in working with women who are experiencing varying degrees of mental health and or addictions as it relates to violence against women.
- Knowledge of harm reduction strategies and approaches.
- Proven experience working with women leaving abusive relationships.
- Expert problem solving, conflict resolution and decision making skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge of community resources within the Durham Region
- Crisis Intervention Skills
- Comprehensive understanding of the systemic barriers women who are experiencing violence face.
- Non-judgmental and feminist approach in working with women.
- Strong advocacy skills
- Ability to work well independently and within a team.
- Expert case planning and case management skills.
- Expert verbal and written communication skills.

Herizon House is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We will provide accommodations to applicants upon request at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants who require accommodation should contact us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Pay: From $24.11 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking

Application question(s):

- Are you able to fulfill all shifts in the weekend rotation as per the job posting?

Work Location: In person