Counsellor/advocate

**Counsellor/Advocate**

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region supports survivors of sexual violence. We listen, facilitate healing, and celebrate resiliency. Using an intersectional feminist approach, we work to transform systems which promote gender-based violence.

**Essential Requirements of Education**:

- Post-secondary education in a counselling-related program

**Key Areas of Responsibility**:

- Individual and group counselling with survivors of sexual violence
- Advocacy and accompaniments with survivors
- Maintenance of client files and statistics
- Student supervision, as required

**Knowledge and Skills Required**:

- Knowledge of sexual violence, trauma, and recovery
- Proven skills in counselling, group facilitation, crisis intervention, and advocacy with survivors of sexual violence
- Demonstrated commitment to anti-violence work and an intersectional feminist approach
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Office hours are 9:00AM to 4:30PM; however, some flexibility is needed for evening and occasional weekend work.

**_*Due to the COVID pandemic, staff are working remotely._**

**Salary**: $28.48 to $33.50 per hour and a generous vacation package. This is a 1-year contract role beginning immediately. Note: Part-time employees are not expected to attend internal meetings or participate on committees.

**Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppression Statement**:
We recognize that sexual violence disproportionately impacts women, trans, and non-binary people. We particularly recognize the impact of racism and colonialism on Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, girls, gender-diverse, and two-spirit survivors.

We acknowledge that the majority of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main office at 151 Frederick Street in Kitchener, Ontario is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on either side of the Grand River.

**COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol**:
To maintain the safety of our team, service users, and community, all new staff are required to provide proof of being Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19 as a pre-condition of their employment offer.

**JOB DESCIPTION - COUNSELLOR/ADVOCATE**

**Duties and Responsibilities**

Reporting to the Counselling Manager, our Counsellor / Advocates are accountable to provide supportive, strengths-based, non-judgmental advocacy, psycho-education, and individual and group counselling to survivors and their families who have been impacted by sexual violence.

 

**Duties and Responsibilities**
- Direct Service _
- Provide an average of 12 individual counselling sessions per week based on 17.5 hours/week) for people, 16 years of age and older, who have experienced and/or have been impacted by sexual violence.
- Provide advocacy and accompaniments to survivors. Provide accompaniments to court, the hospital, the police station, mental health appointments, CIBC hearings, etc.
- Write letters of support/advocacy and CICB therapy reports.
- Participate in case conferences and consultations.
- Make appropriate referrals to other community services and communicate with other service providers to support clients.
- Maintain and build community partnerships, within the scope of a Counsellor/Advocate role.
- Provide practical assistance to clients as necessary and available. (ie. bus tickets, grocery vouchers, hygiene products, food items, book loans, etc.)
- Provide support with Group Counselling as requested by the Counselling Manager including recruiting, screening, and completing intake with participants. This position may also involve some group program preparation, facilitation, and evaluation.
- Other _
- Participate in regular clinical supervision sessions, and meetings with the Manager of Counselling Services.
- Maintain client files. Respond to client inquiries, prepare for future sessions, complete monthly and quarterly statistics, provide information about SASC to community members and participate in team meetings.
- Ensure continuing competency by seeking out professional development opportunities, clinical consultation, and debriefing support.

Additionally, in a small agency, it is often the case that work of a nature similar to that in each job is either assigned or known to be necessary to be done. As well, from time to time, work that is not similar in nature to the job may also be required to be done by individuals in any job in order to accomplish the SASC’s purpose.

**Qualifications**
- Post-secondary education in a counselling-related program and 5 years of relevant experience.
- Knowledge and training pertaining to sexual violence, trauma and recovery.
- Proven skills in support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy with survivors of gender-based violence.
- Familiarity with community services.
- Knowledge of how sexual violence relates to forms of oppression.
- Demonstrated experience work