POSITION TYPE: Full-Time Permanent

DEPARTMENT: Counselling

AFFILIATION: Unionized Position

LOCATION: Head Office, Scarborough, ON

HOURS: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, 3 days per week; 2:30pm-10:30pm, 2 days per week

EXTENDED HOURS: Evenings and weekends as required

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION-Tropicana Community Services, a Toronto-based multi-service organization, provides all youth, newcomers, people of Black and Caribbean heritage and others in need with opportunities and alternatives that lead to success and positive life choices. Our mission is achieved through culturally appropriate programs such as counselling, childcare, education, employment services and youth development.

ABOUT THE POSITION-Provide culturally-appropriate clinical counselling to children, youth, adults and seniors, especially from the Black, African and Caribbean communities, to address challenges that may be having significant impacts on various aspects of their lives. Services aim to engage often hard-to-reach clients and work collaboratively with families to develop treatment plans that manage risky behaviours, build on strengths and facilitate pro-social opportunities for improved outcomes. Using a client-centered anti-Black racism lenses, clients are supported to achieve their goals through individual and family counselling and/or group and workshop facilitation including: Stop Now And Plan (SNAP®). Success through Aggression Replacement Training (START) and Youth Mentorship

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Counselling & Group Facilitation:

• Clinical application and documentation of social work theories, assessments and outcomes to counsel children, youth, adults and seniors to identify solutions for presenting challenges
• Anti-oppressive, trauma-informed counselling and education to women experiencing gender-based violence to help them develop actionable plans that facilitate their well-being and achievement of goals for themselves and their dependents including safety planning, information sharing, advocacy, system navigation and accompaniment
• Assess child and family strengths and needs, including risk identification, for their eligibility into the Stop Now And Plan (SNAP®) program and, where necessary, develop and facilitate treatment plans to achieve goals, external case management and service co-ordination
• Assess children, youth and adult strengths and needs for their eligibility into the Success through Aggression Replacement Training (START) program and, where necessary, facilitate individual and group programming of skills streaming, anger-control and moral reasoning sessions
• Supportive counselling to assist newcomers, in particular Black African and Caribbean, to settle effectively into Canadian society
• Advocate on behalf of clients within the various systems (e.g. child protection, housing, schools, courts, police, and social assistance) to help clients remove barriers to service

Workshop Facilitation:

• Develop and facilitate educational workshops for women & children experiencing gender-based violence using Feminist, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive and anti-racist foundation
• Recruit and train Black, African & Caribbean volunteer Mentors to support and guide Mentees to develop positive social skills
• Develop and facilitate life-skills workshops to youth
• Develop and facilitate social programming for adults and seniors in the Women Empowering Women Support Network, Gentlemen's Forum and Caribbean Lime service

Service Evaluation:

• Follow program guidelines including the reporting and record-keeping
• Participate in quality assurance, evaluation, data collection and research activities
• Conduct performance management activities to evaluate service outcomes

Committee Participation & Outreach:

• Develop positive links and partnerships with organizations through committee membership to enhance service delivery and ensure that members of the Black, African and Caribbean community are receiving fair and equitable treatment
• Conduct community visits to promote services to agencies including, but not limited to, social services, education, immigration, medical and legal systems

Practicum Supervision:

• Provide supervision and direction to students and program volunteers inclusive of recruiting, orientation, coaching, training and evaluation

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Bachelor Degree in Social Work and related work experience in counselling individuals and families from the Black, African and Caribbean community
  

Work Experience

• Related work experience counselling individuals and families from the Black, African and Caribbean community
  
• Experience providing culturally-informed advanced counselling, crisis intervention and group facilitation to families from the Black, African and Caribbean community
• Familiarity with the fundamentals of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Parent Management Training and Behaviour Management Systems Training
• Knowledge of a variety of theoretical approaches including, but not limited to, Solution Focussed Brief Therapy, Systems, Attachment, Feminist, Aggression Replacement Training and Transtheoretical Model
• Ability to attract the community to the agency using innovative and exciting strategies

Licenses & Certifications

• Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• Valid police clearance with vulnerable sector check
  

Language & Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both oral and written

Transferable Skills

• Lived experience of the Black, African & Caribbean culture, in particular, understanding of anti-Black racism issues
• Understanding of trauma and attachment in relation to gender violence issues
• Proven time-management, organization, engagement and sustainability skills
• Ability to work well in a team setting and with minimal supervision
• Ability to attract the community to the agency using innovative and exciting strategies
• Demonstrated initiative, enthusiasm, creativity, versatility, adaptability and ability to engage persons of all ages
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Excellent facilitation skills with children, youth, adults and seniors
• Computer proficiency in Windows environment Microsoft Office and Internet
  

HOW TO APPLY

Although we appreciate each application, only those candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.

It is a condition of employment that new employees provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start date of employment. This means that all new employees must have received all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada prior to their start date. Applicants who have appropriate written proof of a medical reason, or a reason pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code, for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may provide such documentation to the Human Resources department. Such situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Tropicana Community Services is committed to creating an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Please inform the Human Resources department, at the time of your application, of any requirement for accommodation in order for us to assess all employees in a fair and equitable manner.