Counsellor

Posting Date: Friday, August 27, 2010
Closing Date: Friday, September 17, 2010 at 5:00pm
Status: Permanent Full-Time (37.5 hours per week); Bargaining Unit, Category 1 (Salary Range: $42,012 to $43,073)

Job Description

This role is responsible for providing crisis and on-going counselling services to individuals, couples and families who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Specific duties and responsibilities will also include, but are not limited to the following and may be subject to change:

Counselling
  • Provides individual, couple and family counselling which will include crisis and grief counselling to current clients as well as "walk-in" clients and other.
  • Provides crisis and short-term counselling and emotional support to clients; assists to assess their situation, particularly with reference to their safety; provides information and assistance in naming appropriate strategies; provides information and referral to appropriate community resources.
  • Conducts intake and assessment sessions for new or "walk-in" clients by collecting demographic information and identifying the psychosocial history and relationship to HIV.
  • Identifies depression and suicide risks and makes referrals.
  • Assesses needs such as the need for support or on-going counselling, financial assistance and home support and makes referrals.
  • Responds to telephone calls on the Hotline and provides information, support and referral to callers.

Resource and Referral Service
  • Acts as a resource for clients, volunteers, staff and community callers, making referrals to other HIV/AIDS related organizations and programs.
  • Advocates on behalf of clients with health care providers and others to ensure client needs are met.
  • Represents the agency on tasks forces and work groups related to assessment and development of new and existing services. Represents the agency at a variety of service related networks.
  • Prepares and delivers workshops on HIV/psychosocial and related issues.
  • Participate in community based networks, education and advocacy initiatives related to issues those living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Administration and General Duties
  • Key enters clinical and statistical information and completes forms for clients related to benefits and assistance.
  • Maintain case records and statistics, assist with writing proposals and reports.
  • Assist with the ongoing evaluation, development and maintenance of all aspects of the counselling program, including evaluating the needs and services required
  • Utilizes downtime in an effective manner i.e.; debriefing, grounding, reading relevant materials, reading agency communication tools, other agency duties.
  • Participates on teams and external committees to plan, coordinate and deliver new and existing services, communicate information, resolve problems and achieve the goals of the organization.
  • In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision-making and in building relationships.

Student Supervision
  • Provides supervision and support to students.
  • Evaluates student performance.
  • Liaises with the Student Placement Coordinator to communicate information.

Qualifications
  • In-depth understanding of HIV/AIDS, safer sex and risk reduction principles and practices.
  • Minimum post-secondary education in social services or a related field or, a combination of education and related experience.
  • Minimum two years related experience in counselling, crisis intervention and/or case management.
  • Must demonstrate sound knowledge of counselling and crisis intervention functions, understand and be able to apply the concepts of client-centred relationships.
  • Must be able to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to address issues.
  • Ability to work cooperatively and professionally with clients, team members, internal and external contacts.
  • Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, to work both independently and within a team, to take initiative, to anticipate potential problems/conflicts and take appropriate actions, to organize and prioritize work and to meet deadlines.
  • Excellent organizational, computer, problem solving, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

Please forward a current resume, with covering letter detailing how your qualifications match this opportunity, to the address noted below:

Careers
AIDS Committee of Toronto
399 Church Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M5B 2J6
Email: careers@actoronto.org
Facsimile: 416.340.8224

We thank all candidates for their interest in the work of ACT; however, please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted directly.

The AIDS Committee of Toronto is committed to employment equity and encourages people living with HIV/AIDS, visible minorities and persons with culturally diverse backgrounds to apply and self-identify.Please no phone calls.