Counsellor

Huronia Transition Homes; Barrie; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Huronia Transition Homes invites applications for a Counsellor to provide trauma-informed counselling for women affected by gender-based violence. Services may occur in person, virtually, or by phone, tailored to each client’s needs.

The role emphasizes an intersectional feminist approach, harm reduction, and empowerment, with duties ranging from individual counselling to group facilitation and resource referrals, while collaborating with community partners. Compensation is $58,319 per year.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree/diploma in health or social work with 3–5 years relevant experience.
• Experience counselling survivors of gender-based violence, sexual violence, or IPV.
• Current First Aid/CPR and WHMIS certifications are required.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed counselling to women affected by gender-based violence.
• Engage in trauma-informed approaches and feminist empowerment models.
• Develop safety and action plans with clients and connect to resources.
• Maintain accurate client information and agency statistics per policy.
• Facilitate groups and collaborate with community partners to support clients.
• Respond to crises with short-term intervention and referrals as needed.

Skills

Trauma-informed counselling

Intersectional feminist framework

Harm reduction

Crisis intervention

Group facilitation

Documentation & reporting

Education

Post-secondary degree/diploma in health/social work

BSW/MSW preferred

First Aid/CPR Certification

WHMIS Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic client databases

Job description

Integrating an intersectional feminist framework and a harm reduction philosophy, the Counsellor is responsible for providing trauma-informed counselling services to women who have experienced gender-based violence. Services may be delivered in person, virtually, or by telephone, as mutually determined by the woman and the counsellor.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACTIVITIES

SERVICE DELIVERY

• Provide individual supportive counselling to strengthen women's understanding of the impacts of gender-based violence
• Support women in contextualizing their experiences through a trauma-informed approach

• Engage in therapeutic modalities that promote healing, insight, self-awareness, and resilience
• Provide counselling through a feminist empowerment model using evidence-based practices
• Establish a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental counselling environment
• Assist women in developing personal goals, safety plans, and action plans
• Collaboratively identify service needs
• Provide referrals and assist women in accessing community resources
• Facilitate therapeutic and educational groups as assigned
• Support women in developing self-advocacy skills and strategies
• Respond to crisis situations and provide short-term crisis intervention where required
• Provide ongoing counselling to support recovery from violence and trauma.
• Be available to engage people at the door and on the phone and to attend to office tasks

COMMUNITY LIAISON AND ADVOCACY

• Assist women in making connections with community resources including housing, medical, social assistance, basic needs resources and legal systems
• Promote women's rights, empowerment, and safety through education and advocacy
• Remain committed to initiatives that support the prevention and eradication of GBV
• Build collaborative relationships with community partners and service providers

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

• Maintain accurate and timely statistics as per agency policies and procedures
• Ensure client information is accurately entered into agency databases and reporting systems.
• Participate in program planning, evaluation, and quality improvement by collecting information through survey distribution, feedback forms, etc. and identifying trends
• Make recommendations regarding service improvements to program supervisor
• Research resource materials to support the work and the needs of the participants
• Participate in ongoing professional development, including approved workshops and trainings

TEAM AND AGENCY PARTICIPATION

• Actively participate in staff and agency meetings
• Collaborate with management, staff and community partners to enhance service delivery
• Promote a healthy, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture
• Participate in supervision, applicable training, and professional development opportunities
• Practice open, direct, respectful, and professional communication
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Adhere to all policies, procedures, regulations, and standards of Huronia Transition Homes

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A relevant post-secondary degree/diploma (BSW/MSW preferred) and a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant work experience
• Minimum 3-5 years of counselling experience working with survivors of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and/or gender-based violence
• Current First Aid/CPR Certification
• WHMIS Certification

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of the issues & complexities of violence against women
• Strong understanding of intersectional feminist, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and harm reduction frameworks
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and evidence-based counselling approaches
• Ability to work with women experiencing mental health and substance use issues
• Strong counselling and assessment skills
• Group facilitation and program delivery skills
• Knowledge of social service, housing, healthcare, legal, and justice systems
• Experience working with women from diverse cultural, racial, linguistic, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds
• Excellent problem-solving, conflict resolution, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, documentation, and time-management skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic client database systems
• Demonstrated ability to meet individual and organizational goals and service targets

Working Conditions/Requirements

• Office environment but may include non-standard workplaces
• Reliable vehicle, valid driver's license, and appropriate insurance
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods
• Some flexibility in working hours may be required to meet client needs

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Teamwork

• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other members of the organization; demonstrate the ability to cooperate in achieving organizational goals and work objectives; share information and communicate effectively with team members; use effective conflict resolution skills.

Service Delivery

• Recognize, meet, and effectively communicate regarding the unique service needs of individual women and children in service; role model and mentor others to develop the ability to apply a woman-centred approach to service delivery which demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s mission, beliefs and aims, anti-racist/anti-oppression/harm reduction framework.

Policy, Procedure and Process Adherence

• Thoroughly understand and apply appropriate organizational and operational policies, principles, procedures, methodologies, rules, guidelines and interpretations in all aspects of daily work.

Judgment/Decision Making

• Demonstrate ability to analyze relevant information and evaluate alternate courses of action within scope of position; anticipate consequences and assume responsibility for actions taken.

Adaptability/Innovation

• Demonstrate initiative to respond effectively to challenges and responsibilities; demonstrate flexibility when considering concepts, ideas and work practice; able to initiate new ideas and recommend innovative methods, processes and strategies.

Listening, Understanding and Responding

• Demonstrate the ability to practice active listening; to understand scenarios as they occur, and to respond appropriately when interacting with individuals and groups; liaise effectively and respectfully with team, supervisors, co-workers, service users and the general public.

Achieving Results

• Able to achieve or surpass identified goals with appropriate use of supervision; consistently produce quality work by establishing priorities, implementing, monitoring and adjusting in order to meet objective and deadlines.

Technological Competence

• Appropriately and efficiently use office equipment; use technology with fluency and ease; resolve routine problems without assistance; learn new technologies quickly and adapt to change easily; comply with computer and equipment use policy.

Intersectional Feminist Analysis

• Provide all services and supports using an intersectional feminist approach which recognizes that social norms are set by the dominant social groups, and work towards dismantling those norms; recognize women’s individual and unique social locations and experiences of oppression; understand identities of gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, race, ethnicity, religion or spirituality, immigration status, and ability; understand the complexity of these identities, and connect these social locations to the multi-layered experiences of power, privilege and oppression, and how various social norms give or diminish power; Understand how oppression contributes to systemic injustice and social inequality; demonstrate a strong understanding of all forms of gender-based violence; demonstrate a commitment to continuing education as it relates to feminism and violence against women.

Work Within a Harm Reduction Philosophy

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of harm reduction principles as an evidence-based framework; understand use, effects and impacts of substances and able to communicate both practical and functional aspects of harm reduction practices to the women we serve; meet women "where they are at" with a non-judgmental approach; demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning in regards to trends, strategies, legislation etc.

In keeping with our commitment to represent all our communities, Indigenous women, Francophone women, queer-identified and racialized women are especially encouraged to apply.

Compensation: $58,319.00, per year

AI disclosure: We do not use artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools at any stage of the candidate screening, evaluation, or selection process. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.

Vacancy status: This is an existing position vacancy.