Resident Counsellor Advocate (North/South Location)

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 supports will be based on survivors’ needs including risk assessment, safety planning, counselling, emotional support, legal and housing supports, information & referrals, acompaniments, and advocacy.  

What to Expect in this Role

• Provide timely services and thorough case management to all residents from a feminist, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, harm reduction and trauma-informed lens.
• Provide transitional planning and assistance from home to shelter, shelter to community, and shelter to shelter.
• Keep accurate, detailed, and up-to-date case notes using the internal database system, and maintain confidentiality.
• Conduct intakes, risk assessment and safety planning.
• Liaise with schools, daycares, children’s services, and other community supports.      
• Assist residents to locate safe, affordable, and permanent housing accommodations.
• Co-facilitate support/educational groups for survivors impacted by violence.
• Build and maintain community partnerships with stakeholders and other service providers.
• Support with crisis intervention and conflict resolution.
• Answer crisis calls.
• Provide accompaniments to support residents and act as a source of information on issues, processes, systems, services, resources, and make referrals to appropriate and supportive services.
• 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 supports with intake and crisis lines.

About You:

• Critical and intersectional understanding of systems, issues, challenges, and barriers.
• Strong understanding of anti-oppression, human rights, and social justice.
• Practices accountability with clients, coworkers, partners, and management.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Prioritize confidentiality and demonstrate empathy, self-awareness, values teamwork, and open communication.
• Understanding and follow safety procedures.
• Identify as Indigenous, First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

Qualifications      

• University or college education in a related field, such as Indigenous Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Sociology, Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Program, Early Childhood, Human Rights, Social Justice, or the equivalent in education and extensive experience.
• 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, sanism, etc. on clients’ and their children’s lived experiences of violence.     
• Proven ability in case management and supportive counselling skills from a decolonizing approach.
• Strong knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction Strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis support and ability to mediate conflict.
• Professional communication skills; dedicated to team building and strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Current First Aid and CPR level C training is required.
• ASL is an asset.
• Preferred language: Mandarin and/or Vietnamese.
• Must drive clients to appointments and accompaniments and hold a G driver license and a reliable car.
• Preference will be given to a person who identifies as an Indigenous person.

Organizational Equity Statement

Embrave: Agency to End Violence 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:

Please send a letter of application and current resume to Embrave: Agency to End Violence by April 14, 2023, utilizing Charity Village platform. Please include in your cover letter the position that you are applying for.  

We will provide employment accommodation if we are advised of an applicant’s needs in advance of any part of the selection process.

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.