Mental Health Counsellor

**POSTING DATE**:August 28, 2024

**RESPONSE DEADLINE**: September 9, 2024

**ABOUT WANASAH**

Wanasah is a new mental health agency created to address the urgent mental health and addictions needs of Black youth and their families through the provision of effective Black-centric mental health services in the community. Wanasah recognizes the need for inclusive, trauma-informed care with meaningful incorporation of spirituality and community voice in its programming. We work within an anti-racist, anti-Black racist and anti-oppression framework that incorporates principles of intersectionality. Wanasah is based in Regent Park, Toronto.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new organization that is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of Black youth in Toronto. The successful individual will work with a small, dedicated team to develop, evaluate and adapt an innovative model of care.

**Position Summary**

Wanasah is seeking a Mental Health Counsellor to work with Black youth aged 12-25 with mental health and addictions concerns and their families in Regent Park. These youth may be experiencing serious diagnosed/undiagnosed mental illness, problematic substance use, violence, grief/loss, involvement with the criminal justice system and/or a mental health crisis. Regent Park has a large Black East African community along with other diverse Black populations that make up our clients. The Mental Health Counsellor’s primary responsibility will be to provide individual and group therapy to clients and their families. They will report directly to the Program Manager and work closely with other members of the Wanasah team, namely the Case Managers, Community Nurse, Community Support Worker and Spiritual Care Facilitator, as well as partner agencies in the community. A key task will be on building trust and engagement with the community, including current and propsective clients and their families. The Mental Health Counsellor will utilize a Black-centric, person and family centered, spiritually affirming, trauma and healing centered informed approach.

**Responsibilities Include**:

- Provide individual and group therapy to support Black youth with mental health and addiction concerns and their families
- Provide individual and family assessments, risk assessments and follow up services
- Provide one-time or ongoing therapy, crisis intervention, and psycho-education to clients
- Support clients whose needs cannot be met in the community to access acute care and/or emergency services
- Provide advocacy and support services during and following hospitalization
- Identify and provide appropriate Black centric therapeutic approaches to care
- Develop and implement workshops/training sessions on topics such as trauma recovery, bereavement and culturally specific mental health and addictions care
- Offer and provide support to family and chosen family of clients through psycho-education, crisis prevention, family therapy, family meetings, etc.
- Collaborate with families and other internal and external providers to identify and access services that support the treatment plan
- Build trust with Black youth and families in the community through collaboration with community/partner agencies
- Provide culturally and spiritually affirming psychoeducation and necessary supports to family, partner agency staff, teachers, and referral sources
- Be a youth and family mental health and addictions resource for partner agency staff and community members
- Ensure the implementation of models of best practice and evidence-based practice
- Participate in quality-of-care activities to initiate positive changes in programs and care
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records and documentation
- Participate as a full member of Wanasah’s team
- Comply with Wanasah’s policies and procedures including those relating to privacy and confidentiality
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with family/chosen family, community agencies/partners and other resources in the community
- Perform other duties as assigned

**Requirements**:

- Masters prepared or specialization in a mental health related discipline (MSW, MN, Spiritual Care, etc.)
- Membership and good standing in a professional college (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, CRPO, COTO, etc.)
- Completed at least three years of counselling practice in mental health in a facility/team or related program with access to training, observed care, regular supervision and/or peer mentoring.
- Experience working with youth and families
- Training and experience with a variety of clinical approaches such as: MBCT, CBT, DBT, ACT, MSRB, narrative therapy, brief solution focused therapy, etc.
- Demonstrated experience supporting individuals with mental health and addictions issues from a recovery, harm reduction, trauma informed and client centered approach
- Knowledge of issues impacting youth with mental health and addictions concerns, and familiarity with local res