Shelter Counsellor

at  YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed relevant post-secondary education (Social Service Worker diploma, Dual Pathways Program - Social Service Worker and Mental Health and Addictions, and/or Bachelor of Social Work) and at least 2 years relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to mental illness, trauma, harm reduction, crisis de-escalation and anti-oppressive practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health, addictions, individual and group supports.
• Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to work with women and their families using brief solution-focused techniques.
• Demonstrates knowledge, understanding, and ability to respond appropriately to women and their children as they deal with the short and long-term effects of surviving trauma including having lived in an abusive situation; having survived an abusive situation and dealing with the impact of leaving an abusive situation.
• Incorporates knowledge and understanding of the impact of marginalization on women.
• Women may be marginalized by: living in a rural and/or isolated location; housing/homelessness; poverty; physical and mental health status; use of legal/illegal drugs &/or alcohol; racialization; immigration status; sexual orientation; gender identity; family status; physical & mental health status of their children; differing ability/disability; language; culture; religion; education; employment; source of income; socio-economic status; literacy and numeracy skills; and so forth.
• Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to incorporate anti-oppression & antiracist understanding into daily practice.
• Knowledge of, and proven ability to use, Crisis Prevention & Intervention skills in order to diffuse and prevent crisis situations.
• Strong crisis intervention, de-escalating, conflict management and resolution skills.
• Demonstrates ability to be self-reflective and self-aware in the role of Shelter Counsellor.
• Demonstrates awareness of the personal impact of VAW work and creates and uses a personal well-being plan in order to deal with the impact of the work.
• Demonstrates ability to adhere to professional standards in all facets of shelter work; with clients, with co-workers, and with the public.
• Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to create a healthy workplace environment for residents and co-workers.
• Demonstrates the ability to incorporate training and professional development into day-today work.
• Basic understanding of the spectrum of sex work from consensual to coerced human trafficking.
• A solid understanding of de-colonization practices and the impacts of colonization and de-colonization practices.
• Food Handlers Certificate an asset.
• Life Skills Certificate an asset.
• A certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset
• Ability to work shiftwork days/nights/evenings and weekends required.
• Clear CPIC with vulnerable sector screening required
• The YWCA Vaccination Policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Valid exemptions pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Please refer the Job description for details