Children's Specialist

**JOB SUMMARY**

Responsible to the Executive Director and supervised by the Willow Place Clinical Supervisor, the Children’s Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating programs designed to provide holistic, wraparound services for families who have experienced abuse/violence. The Children’s Specialist provides family therapy and counselling services including parenting support and related programming. The Children’s Specialist is responsible for the coordination of all aspects of services for children including the school program and summer day camp. This position is also responsible for Case Management which involves working in a team environment as well as advocacy and collaboration with community collaterals.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Minimum Undergraduate Degree, preferably in mental health nursing, counselling, psychology or social work. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated knowledge of child development and relevant, age appropriate programming for children who have experienced family violence.
- Demonstrated knowledge implementation, planning and evaluation of programming.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health and its impact on women and children experiencing family violence.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of working with individuals with complex needs including mental health issues and substance use is essentials.
- Minimum one (1) year supervised clinical counseling experience with adults and children, including individual and group counselling.
- Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity is required to work effectively with the diversity of Willow Pace participants. Must be willing to work in a pro-choice, 2SLGBTTQIA+ positive environment.
- Must have the proven ability to de-escalate potentially volatile situations and work with vulnerable and marginalized individuals from a strength-based focus.
- Demonstrated ability to incorporate current best practices in the field.
- Excellent inter-personal communication, written communication and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent problem solving, decision-making and analytical skills.
- Ability to work under pressure in a team environment and balance competing demands for time.
- Good time management and organizational skills.
- Current Emergency First Aid and CPR Certificate.
- Current Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certificate.
- Flexible to meet the needs of a 24-hour care facility.
- Satisfactory Child and Adult Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Therapeutic Service
- Case Management/Programming
- Advocacy and Liaison with Community Collaterals
- Participant Relations
- Programming
- Shelter Support
- Administration
- Team Responsibilities
- Organizational Responsibilities

**TERAPEUTIC SERVICE**:

- Completes a structured comprehensive intake, assesses and develops a need-based therapeutic plan for each family from a strength-based approach.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of therapeutic services provided by working in collaboration with the clients and refer them to appropriate resources and other professionals as and when required.
- Ensures each individual (age appropriate) child receives therapeutic counselling based on their needs and meets the requirements of the Standards Manual for Manitoba Shelters and the Service and Funding Agreement.
- Provides therapeutic counselling and learning opportunities specific to the identification of feelings, assertiveness, problem solving, development of social skills, conflict resolution and anger management.
- Provides parenting support and interventions to support the family to develop positive coping mechanisms.
- Empowers women to make informed choices by providing information, resources and opportunities to understand family and gender-based violence and by supporting them in developing and implementing a participant-centered plan for her family. Provides a progressive goal-oriented, holistic and multi-modality process for accomplishing this. Reinforces or expands the problem-solving capacity of the participant.
- Ensures each child has an up to date protect plan which identifies adults that the child trusts, can talk to, and with whom they find safety.
- Facilitates therapeutic group counselling for residential and non-residential children and women.

**CASE MANAGEMENT/PROGRAMMING**:

- Ensures the participant(s) is included in their case plan. Each case plan should be strength based with measurable goals and outcomes. Each case plan must include risk assessments and ongoing safety planning.
- Responsible for reviewing the case plan and ensuring that timely updates and revisions are completed in collaboration with the participant and appropriate team members.
- In conjunction with the Clinical Supervisor(s) and the Executive director, ensures other program goals are current and measurable.
- Responsible for reviewing and revising program