Welcome to Willow Place, The heart of our work is healthy relationships. Willow Place provides inclusive, no-cost family violence prevention services, 24-hours, every day of the year to anyone in need of support with situations of family and interpersonal violence (women, men, youth).
Are you seeking rewarding and challenging work? Willow Place has a part-time Term entry level employment opportunity available. We welcome diverse skill-sets, experience, and backgrounds including students, semi-retired and retired persons
Our Approach
- Trauma Informed
- Harm Reduction
- Strength-Based
- Client Centered
Sound Good So Far? We’re Hiring!
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible to the Executive Director and supervised by the Willow Place Clinical Supervisor, the Family Violence Counselor is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating programs designed to provide holistic services for individuals experiencing or using family violence/abuse. The family violence counselor provides individual and group counseling to residential and non-residential clients. The counselor maintains a current and broad network of community-based and public sector services and stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. The counselor provides immediate crisis stabilization services as well as longer term support to assist clients achieve stable housing, economic stability, positive community connections and healthy relationships.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Undergraduate degree in the Human Services field such as a Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Completion of the Applied Counseling Certificate Program may be considered in combination with other related education and work experience.
· Demonstrated knowledge of family violence, gender-based violence, oppression and its impact on women, men and children.
· Ability to incorporate current best practices in the field including harm reduction, strength based client-centered approaches and working with trauma.
· Minimum one year supervised counseling experience, including individual and group counseling.
· 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.
· Knowledge of community resources.
· 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 Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
· Counselling
· Advocacy
· Client Relations
· Programming
· Shelter Support
· Administration
COUNSELLING:
· Completes a structured comprehensive written intake and assessment for each women requesting services.
· Ensures each residential client receives one hour counseling each day they are in shelter. Meets with a minimum of 3-4 clients per shift.
· 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 client-centered plan. Provides a progressive goal-oriented, holistic and multi-modality process for accomplishing this. Reinforces or expands the problem-solving capacity of the client.
· Ensures each residential client (and clients calling the crisis line whenever possible) has an up to date protection plan. The protection plan should include but not be limited to internet safety.
· Facilitates group counseling for residential and outreach clients which may include staff, students and volunteers as co-facilitators.
· Provides information and counseling support to crisis line callers.
· Completes a departure interview with each client.
ADVOCACY:
· Provides information regarding community supports and opportunities. Where necessary acts as a liaison, advocate, referral agent and in some cases the case manager with outside agencies to provide coordination of services for clients.
· Provides education and information on abuse to outside agencies to improve services to women and children as required
· Maintains a broad and current network of community agencies and services and represents Willow Place in a professional manner.
CLIENT RELATIONS:
· Proactively creates a space of unconditional positive regard that allows clients a safe space to focus on their own mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
· Models healthy relationship behaviors in all interactions in the work environment.
· Competently, respectfully and appropriately deals with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors without personalizing the behavior.
PROGRAMMING:
· Develops and maintains the content, process and materials for facilitating a minimum of two groups monthly.
· In conjunction with the Supervisor(s) and the Director, ensures program goals for each service area are current and measurable.
· Participates in reviewing, revising and developing program components to enhance client service with the Supervisor(s) and the Director.
· Offers input into formal and informal evaluation of programs.
SHELTER SUPPORT:
· Participates as a responsible team member by communicating and providing support and back-up to the various teams as required. Participates fully and with flexibility in shift changeover, coordination meetings and debriefings, setting priorities to ensure the counseling and practical needs of the clients are met.
· Participates in housekeeping and organizational tasks and assists with meal preparation and childcare as needed.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
· Provides accurate professional file documentation and statistical entries for all clients on the WISH database. Completes required documentation before the end of each shift.
· Maintains and updates resource materials i.e. library, pamphlets, resource books, handouts and internet resources as time permits.
· Organizes workload and demonstrates effective time management.
· Maintains appropriate email files and email management.
TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES/STAFF DEVELOPMENT:
· Adheres to the values, guiding principles, policies and procedures of Willow Place and supports the strategic direction of the organization.
· Participates in staff meetings and training offerings.
· Acts as a responsible team member by demonstrating initiative, completing work duties, and by maintaining clear, direct and respectful communication with all people in the work environment.
· Provides support, direction and recognition for volunteers, students and work placements involved in counselor responsibilities.
· Proactively stays current with best and emerging practices in the field. Participates regularly in staff development activities according to a learning and development plan identified through supervision and the on-going performance review process.
· Provides back-up coverage to Willow Place as required in response to the needs and priorities of a 24-hour continuing care facility which includes other duties as assigned.
ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintains agency confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
· Engages in regular supervision with the Willow Place Supervisor(s).
· Represents Willow Place in a professional manner.
· Uses appropriate mechanisms for resolving internal agency problems.
· Maintains ongoing positive public relations with outside agencies, groups, and individuals.
· Maintains a strictly confidential/professional relationship with clients.
** Any other duty(ies) as and when assigned by the management**
“Willow Place Inc is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. Applicants who require accommodations during the recruitment process or in performing the essential functions of the role are encouraged to notify us. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are provided in accordance with applicable accessibility laws and policies.”
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Casual
Pay: $24.98-$33.02 per hour
Experience:
- counseling: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
