Counsellor - DCW3

Are you passionate about contributing to the community? Are you interested in working for an organization that is committed to learning and growing, puts people at the centre of our work, believes in a culture of belonging and build on the strength of our community?

Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health supports individuals, families and communities as they work to strengthen their wellbeing and mental health. Our vision is to have a connected community where all people thrive. 

WHAT'S THE OPPORTUNITIY?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Full-Time, Contract, Counsellor to join our Family Supports team This Counsellor will be responsible for the planning and coordination of the overall service delivery to pregnant and parenting youth participating, in school, community and supportive housing programs. If you're a Counsellor with a passion for supporting your community then this is the role for you This is a temporary 4-month position under OPSEU Local 258.

WHY WORK FOR US?

Camino is an organization that serves individuals, families and communities within the Waterloo region. We are excited about our work, the impact we have in the community and our people (our people are our superpower). We are committed to doing what is best for our community and to developing our people.

Join us to:

• Do work that matters.
• Be part of a caring, passionate, and collaborative workplace that lives its values.
• Learn a ton and support us in creating a more seamless experience for individuals, families and our community.
• Be a part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion journey.
• Put the people we serve at the centre of everything we do.
• Have a positive impact in our community.
• Work with an organization that supports your growth and provides opportunities for you to use your transferrable skills among other teams and programs.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING:

• Partner with prenatal and parenting youth to identify and assess their strengths, needs, desires, goals and risks, in order to design flexible service plans that address their identified needs.
• Collaborate with pregnant and parenting youth as well as team members to develop and implement plans of care and crisis support plans.
• Offer individual counselling and support to prenatal and parenting youths. Facilitate referrals to other service providers for specialized mental health supports and treatment where necessary.
• Implement and facilitate various groups and workshops to program participants students and tenants.
• Provide resources, education and direct support to the pregnant and parenting youth and facilitate connections to needed community supports and services.
• Ensure proper documentation is completed according to agency policy, and accreditation standards.
• Ensure ongoing service coordination, lead/attend treatment/case conferences, and work in partnership with other service providers to engage in collaborative, community-based problem solving as needed.
• Facilitate the intake process of new referrals to programs for pregnant and parenting youth. Provide support for youth while in intake and liaise with community agencies as necessary to ensure adequate support is offered.
• Complete intake assessments and offer recommendations to the intake team regarding program admissions.
• Ensure timely and comprehensive communication to program teams regarding potential admissions.
• Liaise with school board partners to provide quality wraparound support for participants in our school program.
• Assist with the admission of program participants, students, and tenants.
• Participate in organizational committees and working groups as required.
• Utilize excellent time management and organizational skills.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• Graduate degree in social work from an accredited University and 1 year of equivalent experience, or undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW) from an accredited University and 3 years of equivalent experience. Equivalent experience involves working with youth/families who have been impacted by trauma and a variety of mental health challenges.
• Registration with an applicable regulatory college (eg. OCSWSSW).
• Ability to utilize a respectful, non-judgemental, empathetic and strengths-based communication style.
• A thorough, advanced understanding of evidence informed/evidence-based practices for promoting trauma, attachment, resilience and wellness-based mental health programs services to infants, children, youth and their families.
• A reflective, analytical practitioner open and responsive to feedback from peers and supervisors.
• Proven ability to effectively manage workload and schedule activities/appointments to meet the demands of the position.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?:

• This is a contract position lasting approximately 4 months in duration that requires flexibility in schedule in order to meet operational requirements.
• This role includes working 37.5 hours per week.
• Must have access to reliable transportation throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo region as well as Cambridge.
• This is a union position, at level DCW3 with OPSEU local 258.
• Compensation for this role starts at $28.54/hr, with placement on the DCW3 Wage Grid determined by accrued worked hours within OPSEU Local 258.
• Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record with Vulnerable Sector Check is required.
• Must be able to provide either proof of vaccination or documentation providing a satisfactory reason under the Ontario Human Rights Code for not being vaccinated.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY 

Camino is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. At Camino we believe that diversity enriches our performance, clients, services offered, the communities where we live and work, and the lives of our employees. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources ). While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

As we continue to be responsive to the changing needs of our communities, we acknowledge the historical and present-day violence and systemic barriers that continue to harm members of our Region and that we must ask ourselves not if we are complicit, but how.

Camino is committed to developing anti-oppressive practices and equitable outcomes for the families we serve while ensuring that our programs reflect and meet their needs. We recognize that we must work in collaboration with others to dismantle systems of oppression, discrimination, and violence that people face as a result of their diversity, beliefs and identities. 

Building equity takes time, resources, intentional commitment and behavioural change. It is an ongoing process, and we start by recognizing the racism and discrimination faced by Indigenous people, Black people, Asian communities, racialized people, ethnic or linguistic groups, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, unhoused people, people with mental illness and people with physical and intellectual disabilities. 

To help us create change and ensure that we can continue helping families thrive, Camino has invested in antiracism and anti-oppression training for all our employees. In addition, we have engaged in an organizational assessment to identify and address gaps. We have also created an Equity Leader position to help ensure our policies, processes, and practices eliminate any existence or influence of systemic racism across our organization.

We have a lot of work to do and we are committed to keep moving forward on this learning journey. We will continue to listen, learn, and take action to ensure that everyone at Camino experiences true equity, empowerment, and inclusion.