Employment Counsellor - Opening Doors (Part-Time, 6 Months)

at  Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION REQUIRED

• Experience: Minimum one (1) year of experience in a vocational or employment initiative, such as Employment Counsellor, Job Developer, Career Mentorship, or relevant community-based support.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in Arabic, including fluency in speaking, reading, and writing.
• Newcomer Experience: Experience working with newcomer youth, either through paid work or volunteering.
• Facilitation Skills: Strong group facilitation, interpersonal, decision-making, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and motivate newcomer youth.
• Communication and Planning: Excellent planning, communication, and conflict resolution skills. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Anti-Oppression Framework: Demonstrated experience working from an anti-oppression, 2SLGBTQI+ positive perspective, with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

WHY CHOOSE CMHA TORONTO?

If you care about mental illness and mental health and you have the right skills, then CMHA Toronto may be the place for you. We have a positive and fair workplace culture, where staff are provided with opportunities for learning and advancement. We are also big believers in wellness and work-life balance. Our benefits include:

• Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), a predictable, secure monthly income upon retirement
• Work-life balance and flexibility – to ensure you have time for the things that matter to you
• Work with like-minded, passionate individuals and make an impact on mental health service delivery
• Build genuine and authentic connections, with colleagues and clients, with the goal of making a difference

CMHA Toronto is committed to promoting a workplace culture of inclusion, openness, mutual respect, and a ‘no blame and accountable’ environment. Our staff report that they value the flexibility in work schedules and the work-life balance CMHA Toronto encourages. They appreciate the training and development opportunities provided to staff and the encouragement for continuous learning. Staff often comment on the sense of family and personal support that exists throughout the organization.
CMHA Toronto is committed to an equitable, diverse, inclusive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work and is an equal opportunity employer. As such, we encourage equity-seeking candidates to apply, especially those who identify as black, Indigenous, people and women of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ or women. We recognize and honour the intersectionality of equity-based identities. Personal experience with mental health issues, either through self or a loved one, is an asset. If you are contacted by our offices regarding a job opportunity, please advise prior to the interview should you require any accommodation.
Please submit your resume through our application system on https://cmhato.org/about-us/careers/.
CMHA Toronto thanks all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted

THE ROLE AND OPPORTUNITY

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Toronto is seeking dynamic, creative, and efficient Employment Counsellors to join The Opening Doors Project – Newcomer Youth Mentorship Team. This role primarily supports Arabic-speaking newcomers aged 15-30 across the GTA.
As a Newcomer Youth Employment Counsellor, you will develop and implement a culturally responsive pre-employment training program and provide one-on-one employment counselling to address the unique employment barriers faced by newcomer youth. You will assist youth in navigating the labour market, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustained employment.
Hourly Rate: $29.74 – $31.55
Hours of Work: 21 per week

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Individualized Support: Build relationships with Arabic-speaking youth participants as context for setting employment-related goals, develop and support individualized employment action plans, providing ongoing guidance, and creative problem solving for barriers along the way.
• Outreach and Relationship Building: Conduct assertive outreach to the community, establish positive relationships with employers, and market youth clients to help secure employment opportunities. Engage in outreach activities to find new clients and represent CMHA at community events.
• Collaboration: Work in partnership with Newcomer Youth Mentors and Case Managers to integrate mentorship with employment support and meet targets as set out by funders, ensuring a cohesive approach to supporting youth employment.
• Program Development and Facilitation: Design, implement, and evaluate a culturally appropriate pre-employment skills training program for newcomer youth in small group settings, focusing on job readiness, system navigation, and life skills.
• Data Management: Gather and record statistics on youth attendance and track their progress. Monitor and evaluate client outcomes to ensure program effectiveness.
• Equity and Inclusion: Operate within an anti-oppression, 2SLGBTQI+ positive, and equity-based framework, supporting a diverse range of youth.
• Recovery and Strength-Based Approach: Utilize a recovery and strength-based framework to empower youth in achieving their employment goals.