Community Support & Outreach Counsellor/Advocate

Embrave: Agency to End Violence is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, counselling, and advocacy supports for women, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary folks, and their children impacted by gender-based violence. We amplify the voices of survivors, educate the community, and inspire systemic change to create a society free of violence.

We are looking for a candidate with strong advocacy skills and intersectional understanding of systems, human rights, social justice, and challenges, and barriers survivors face. The support will be based on survivors’ needs including risk assessment, safety planning, counselling, emotional support, legal and housing supports, information & referrals, accompaniments, and advocacy.   

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide case management to all clients from a trauma-informed lens and keep accurate, detailed, and up-to-date case notes using the internal database system.
• Conduct intake, risk assessment and safety planning.
• Support with crisis intervention and conflict resolution and answer crisis calls.
• Assist clients to locate safe, affordable, and permanent housing accommodations.
• Provide accompaniments to support clients and act as a source of information on issues, processes, systems, services, resources, and make referrals to appropriate and supportive services.
• Facilitate support/educational groups for survivors impacted by violence.
• Build and maintain community partnerships with stakeholders and other service providers.
• Participate in community and outreach events to promote public education and foster understanding of the organization, its mission and vision; as well as issues surrounding Gender Based Violence (GBV). 
• Adhere to all Health and Safety Policies and Procedures as outlined by the organization to minimize risks.
• Perform other duties as assigned for the effective operation of the agency including support with intake and crisis lines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work or equivalency in education and experience. 
• Two years of extensive social work experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working within a Critical Race, Feminist, Anti-Black Racism, and Anti-Colonialism framework.  
• Experience working with clients in areas such as poverty, violence, and homelessness.
• Knowledge and understanding of the systemic barriers experienced by clients and their intersectionality of oppressions i.e., Social Housing Reform Act; Mental Health Act; Landlord Tenant Act; O.W. Act, ODSP Act, etc.  
• Understanding Gender Based Violence (GBV) as a complex social problem and the intersectionality of sexism, racism, classism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitic, ablism etc. on clients’ and their children’s lived experiences of violence. 
• French or a second language is an asset
• Strong knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction Strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis support and ability to mediate conflict.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Current First Aid and CPR level C training is required.
• ASL is an asset.
• Access to a reliable car and current valid driver’s G license.

Scope and Accountability

Hours of Work: 37.5 hrs. per week. Non-Rotational Shifts Mondays and Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. These hours are subject to change based on client needs. 

Salary Range: Hourly Rate $25.89 

To Apply:

Please send a letter of application and current resume to the Human Resources Manager; email: [email protected]. Please include in your cover letter the position that you are applying for. Embrave: Agency to End Violence is committed to the development of an organization that reflects the communities it serves

We will provide employment accommodation (i.e., an accessible location, technical aids, accommodation during the interview, rescheduling of interviews that fall on religious holidays, etc.) if we are advised of an applicant’s needs in advance of any part of the selection process.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Embrave: Agency to End Violence is a unionized workplace with OPSEU. This position is within the bargaining unit and as such the terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with the Collective Agreement. 

Embrave is committed to the development of an organization that reflects the communities it serves. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including: 

• First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples. 
• Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion, spiritual beliefs or place of origin. 
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations. 
• Persons with visible or invisible disabilities. 
• Survivors of the psychiatric system/consumer survivors. 
• Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people.