Human Resources Position Description: Bathhouse Counsellor/Program Coordinator



.
Position Title:
.Bathhouse Counsellor/Program Coordinator
Department:
Support Services
Reporting to:
Manager of Support Services
Category:
Bargaining Unit
Last Updated:
11/12/2008
Hours per week:
37.50
.
Summary:
This on-site (ie in bath houses) counselling role aims to reduce the transmission of HIV/STIs and improving the overall sexual health of diverse communities of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Priority populations within this broader class of men include men who use drugs and alcohol and have sex, older men, HIV positive men, men who are new to Canada, straight-identified and/or bisexual men, trans people, young men, male sex workers, men who seek unprotected anal sex and/or identify with a ‘bareback’ subculture, and men who are socially or economically marginalized due to a range of factors. Working directly with men in bathhouses, this position will provide support through increased access to psycho-social counselling and other support and community services.

This key role will work within the AIDS Committee of Toronto, with the other bathhouse counselloe, and collaboratively with the Project Advisory Committee (PAC). Specific duties and responsibilities will also include, but are not limited to the following and may be subject to change:


Project Development
    1. Develops and implements program work plans, goals and objectives.
    2. Coordinates service provision with key stakeholders.
    3. Develops program tools for record keeping and evaluation.
    4. Conducts ongoing program analyses and makes program recommendations.
    5. Develops comprehensive referral list and program policies and procedures.
    6. Develops and stewards effective working relationships with identified bathhouse management/staff.

Program Coordination
    1. Plans, coordinates and implements all counselling programming for the bathhouses.
    2. Responds to inquiries about bathhouse counselling interventions.
    3. Coordinates and promotes capacity building and training opportunities for program staff.
    4. Collaborates with M2MEN network members to coordinate programming.
    5. Maintains effective working relationship with bathhouse managers/staff.

Counselling
    1. Provides assessment, counselling and referral services; counselling approaches will be consistent with the context, including brief, solution focused counselling, anti-oppression approaches, and motivational interviewing.
    2. Provide crisis counselling and suicide intervention, if needed.
    3. Address a range of psycho-social issues that take into account individual needs and the relationship of the individual to their communities; the counsellor should foster community ties as appropriate.
    4. Addresses substance use issues using harm reduction principles.
    5. Provides affirming, supportive experience to foster a sense of community.
    6. Addresses sexual health issues using a risk reduction and sex-positive approach.

Community Development
    1. Identifies and develops partnership opportunities with agencies, groups, clubs and businesses of relevance to the overall target population and priority populations for the intervention, in order to promote the bathhouse counselling intervention
    2. Coordinates and actively participates in the Project Advisory Committee (PAC).
    3. Fosters understanding with bathhouse management/staff of the nature and utility of the bathhouse counselling intervention and responds to any queries arising from the bathhouse staff community during the project.
    4. Leads and coordinates participation in representing the bathhouse counselling intervention at local, provincial, national and international forums.

Administration & General Duties
    1. Maintains program records, including maintenance of information in database of client demographics and service provision.
    2. Prepares statistical and program reports.
    3. Develops, recommends and implements workplans and budget.
    4. Participates on teams and external committees to communicate information, resolve problems and achieve the goals of the organization.
    5. 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.