Diverse Communities Counsellor - Reflect and Connect

About this position

About Our Centre

The Sexual Assault Centre Kingston is a feminist, not-for-profit organization providing free, confidential, non-judgemental support for survivors of sexual violence in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. We provide support to survivors of all genders, ages 12 and up, who have experienced recent and/or historic sexual violence.

Role Overview:

The Diverse Communities Counsellor provides counselling and advocacy to newcomer, refugee, and racialized survivors of sexual violence in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) area. This is a new position at our Centre and will therefore be subject to change and evolution to meet the needs of SAC Kingston and diverse communities within KFL&A.

Reporting to the Director of Counselling Services, in this role you will:

• Working within our Reflect and Connect counselling program, you will provide individual counselling and advocacy to survivors of all genders, ages 12 and up, according to SAC Kingston's counselling guidelines

• Book approximately 20 sessions per week for counselling survivors of sexual violence

• Facilitate or co-facilitating group counselling or educational workshops when the need is identified

• Maintain complete, accurate, clinically useful client records and counselling statistics in accordance with SAC Kingston policies through our electronic client records database

• Collaborate with community partners and provide referrals for survivors who require services beyond the scope and mandate of the counselling program

• Participate in staff and counselling team meetings on a weekly basis, as well as attending training and professional development opportunities, as directed

• Actively participate in monthly clinical supervision with the Director of Counselling Services and/or Counselling team lead

• Maintain up to date knowledge on current intersectional feminist practices and trends in relation to supporting survivors of sexual violence

• Share information with community partners and other organizations when requested and appropriate

• Maintain an ongoing commitment to intersectional, Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppressive practices within the workplace, and regularly contributes to centre objectives through an AR/AO lens

• In collaboration with the Community Outreach Coordinator and Director of Counseling, contribute to updating best practices, administering client satisfaction surveys, and overall development of the diverse communities program

• Attend regular staff meetings and trainings, as assigned

• Contribute to SACK’s culture by engaging in internal activities, sharing feedback, and bringing a problem-solving perspective

• Perform other tasks as required by the Director of Counselling Services and/or the Executive Director

We are looking for someone who has:

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Nursing and/or acceptable combination of equivalent experience; must be a current member, in good standing, within a regulated health profession that can practice the controlled act of Psychotherapy.

• Experience providing counselling, advocacy, and mental health services to newcomer, refugee, and racialized communities.

• In depth knowledge of intersectional feminist, trauma-informed practices and of the unique struggles experienced by survivors of sexual violence.

• Demonstrated experience in advancing organizational goals of equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression.

• Demonstrated respect for individual, cultural, community and organizational diversity, including the ability to identify and understand intersecting issues related to gender, age, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic location, religion, and gender identity.

• Possess the lived experience, knowledge, and cultural experiences required to address the specific issues diverse communities face safely and effectively

• In depth understanding of the issues impacting racialized communities; in particular, the impact of trauma and racism

• Proven discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters and the ability to respond with sound judgement to crisis situations, seeking consultation as appropriate

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Sufficient computer skills, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, GoogleSuite and electronic client records database

• Valid CPIC, in working with Vulnerable Sectors

We would love it if you have:

• Availability for evening work, as required to meet the needs of centre clients

• Access to a vehicle, and a valid driver's license

• Group facilitation skills and experience

• Working knowledge (speaking, writing) of a language other than English such as; but not limited to; Arabic, Urdu, Farsi

Compensation Package:

Full-Time or Part-Time contract, starting ​immediately until September 30^th, 2022​ with possibility of renewal.

Salary Band: ​$26-$32 ​on an hourly basis, based on education and experience.

At SACK we offer a competitive health benefits subsidies for all full-time contract staff. The prospective candidates will be eligible for these subsidies upon successful completion of their probationary period. In order to protect the health and mental health of our staff, we also offer a generous sick/mental health day policy that all employees will be entitled to ​from their first day in our centre​.

Application Process:

We recognize that BIPOC and other equity deserving community members are disproportionately affected by sexual violence. At SACK, we have promised to do better in representing our community and to take meaningful steps toward eliminating systematic racism and oppression. In line with this commitment, we strongly encourage applicants who self-identify as belonging to BIPOC, newcomer, gender diverse,​ and other equity deserving groups ​to apply.

Interested applicants should submit a resume (Max 3 pages) and cover letter (max 1 page) in a PDF format to hiring@sackingston.com and cc director@sackingston.com with the subject line “Diverse Communities Counsellor Application”. ​The deadline for submitting a full application is Friday, November 5^th, 12:00 pm​, however, applications will be considered on a rolling basis. We thank all applicants for their interest, however; only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please note that this is NOT a remote role and the prospective candidate should be able to work from our physical office located in Kingston. SACK is committed to providing accommodation upon request at all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please contact us at hiring​@sackingston.com​.