Mental Health Counsellor

**Position Title**: Mental Health Counsellor

**Reporting to**:Manager, Asylum Claimant Services

**Working Hours**:This is a full-time temporary contract position until March 31, 2025 with the possibility of extension pending funding approval. (35 hours/week). This position requires in-person work from the office 5 days a week at 245 Fairview Mall Drive, Unit 201 ,North York, ON M2J 4T1

Hours of work will be determined by the Manager. Our operation hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. This position is required to work evenings and weekends.

**Hourly rate**: $31 per hour

**Application Deadline**:September 25, 2024**

**Position Summary**

The Mental Health/Crisis Counselor will provide short-term crisis counseling support and intervention to our clients experiencing emotional distress and/or are in crisis situations. NEW will assist newcomer clients with strengthening their coping skills, making referrals to community mental health resources.

The incumbent will provide holistic mental health support for newcomers through individual one-on-one and/or group therapy to clients who are experiencing emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or violence. The incumbent will assist clients with uncovering underlying mental health issues, replacing maladaptive coping skills with more constructive coping skills, building self-confidence, fostering and promoting self-sufficiency in clients’ daily living activities and creation of departure plans for newcomers under distress when finding alternative housing. This will include making referrals to community mental health resources.

The incumbent is responsible for providing recovery-focused support to clients in the following areas: psychosocial assessment, planning and treatment, care coordination, referral, monitoring and evaluation.

**About Us**

Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW) is an award-winning not-for-profit, multi-service agency with operations in three Toronto locations serving 6000+ Immigrants and Refugees annually. The agency was awarded a Non-profit Employer of Choice Award in 2020 The Canadian Non-profit Employer of Choice Awards (NEOC) recognizes organizations across Canada that have committed themselves to better business management practices to achieve their mission. With 40 years of operations, NEW delivers special programs focused on immigrant women and men empowerment, leadership and skills development, settlement support set building, and career advancement for immigrant and refugee clients.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Conduct comprehensive intakes and psychosocial assessments with an awareness of and comfort level in assessing clients who present with suicidality, self-harm, or who pose other safety risks.
- Develop collaboratively with the client counseling goals and desired outcomes.
- Provide brief counseling and make referrals as per the clients’ needs to appropriate clinical and community support services.
- Document sessions and counseling activities to the standards of counseling/social work discipline and within the requirements of funders and organizational policies and guidelines.
- Provide regular statistical reporting as required.
- Facilitate newcomer women support groups.
- Liaise with families and friends, mental health specialists, police, emergency service personnel, and facilities to assist individuals requiring acute care admission under the Mental Health Act.
- Maintain confidentiality, program targets, and proper documentation as per the agency’s policies, procedures, standards and all applicable legislations.
- Provide information and strategies for health and mental health promotion and crisis prevention.
- Respond to and provide on-site crisis assessments, intervention and support to clients experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Provide brief counseling and referrals for clients experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Facilitate group information sessions and awareness workshops on mental health, coping strategies, and developing resilience.
- Liaise with families and friends, mental health specialists, police, emergency service personnel, and facilities to assist individuals requiring acute care admission.

**Team Contributions & Expectations**
- Committed to the contribution toward program targets and outcomes as defined by the funders, upholding organization’s mission/vision
- Participate in training of new staff, practicum students and volunteers as required
- Attend workshops and training as recommended by NEW
- Take an active role in the upkeep of staff areas and offices
- Participate on committees as needed

**Minimum Requirements**
- University degree relevant to mental health & counseling is required
- At least three-years recent related experience in formal counseling work
- Registered with a counseling or social work college
- Demonstrated assessment, crisis intervention and de-escalation skills
- A strong commitment to, and knowledge of, recovery principles, harm reduction approach