Counsellor – Violence Against Women Program

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (Parkdale Queen West CHC) is a dynamic, community-based health care organization serving mid-west downtown Toronto. Offering a broad range of services, including primary health care, dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, and community development programming, we are also committed to serving people who face barriers to health care and we strive to reduce these barriers.

Counsellor – Violence Against Women Program

One-Year Contract, Full-Time Position (1.0 FTE; 35 hours/week) – Toronto, ON

An experienced Social Worker, Psychotherapist or similarly qualified Counsellor who shares our passion for making a difference, you see this role as an opportunity to take the next step in your successful career while contributing to a vision of Inclusive Communities. Responsive Healthcare. Healthier Lives.

Reporting to the Manager of Mental Health Services, and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll identify and assess the psychosocial needs of clients within our Violence Against Women (VAW) Program, funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. An integral part of your role as Counsellor will entail developing and implementing action plans to facilitate clients’ access to services, including service navigation strategies for isolated, at-risk individuals, and providing integrated counselling services from intake to termination, including an Outreach program for victims of domestic violence, advocacy and support.

With your background in intake case management, crisis intervention, and counselling, you’re well prepared to provide these services to survivors of violence and abuse, conduct risk assessments for referred individuals, and develop safety plans grounded in your understanding of the impact of poverty and limited resources. Looking to the future and to linking available services, you’ll assess community awareness gaps, develop public education sessions, and provide consultation to health care providers, such as support to neighbouring agencies in training their staff.

You’re registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, or equivalent, and have a relevant master’s degree (social work, psychology) with demonstrated experience working with women who are victims of violence, abuse, sexual assault and childhood trauma, or a combination of relevant education and significant experience.

Your expertise in this area is further enhanced by 2 to 3 years working as a counsellor, and experience with feminist counselling models – brief solution, trauma-informed, resilience-based – within an anti-oppression framework. Given the typical service needs of the clients we serve, you’ll call regularly upon your knowledge of poverty issues, social determinants of health impacting on recovery, the mental health system, and current child protection family law, immigrant and refugee issues, and legislative issues. Experience in a non-profit or community health centre environment would be a definite asset.

If you are interested in joining with a creative and dedicated team to make things better, we want to hear from you. Please send your resume and cover letter in a single document (MS Word or PDF format, only) to hiring@pqwchc.ca, by September 27, 2019, quoting “Contract Counsellor – VAW” in the subject line.

We truly appreciate your interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please also note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal reference check as a condition of employment.

PQWCHC is committed to the principles of access and equity. PQWCHC is committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves and we encourage applicants who reflect Toronto’s ethnic and cultural diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request. Parkdale Queen West CHC is in full compliance of the Ontario Human Rights Code and does not discriminate on the ground of records of offenses.