Employment

SASC Job Opportunities

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Counselling Manager

 The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region supports survivors of sexual violence. We listen, facilitate healing, and celebrate resiliency. Using an intersectional feminist approach, we work to transform systems which promote gender-based violence.
 
Due to the generosity of our community and COVID relief funds, we’re recruiting a full-time Counselling Manager! Reporting to our Director of Services, the successful candidate should feel inspired by our work and have a genuine desire to support our mission, vision, and values. They will have prior management experience and have proven work experience as a counsellor providing support to individuals who have experienced sexual violence.
 
Essential Requirements of Education:

• Related post-secondary degree/diploma in social services, related field or equivalent. MSW preferred.
• 3-5 years of management experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience providing support and advocacy to survivors of sexual violence.

 
Key Areas of Responsibility: 

• Individual and group counselling with survivors of sexual violence 
• Ensures all staff are trained in and aware of their responsibilities regarding Program statistics. This role will champion the use of SASC’s statistics database (WISH) and ensure that all mandatory statistics are input correctly and submitted on time.
• Provides support, coaching, training and supervision to SASC’s team of Counsellor/ Advocates. Uses a participatory leadership style to fully engage and motivate Program staff and will be the main point of contact for Counsellor/Advocates for case escalations and debriefs.
• Previous experience in staff recruitment and selection as well as performance management
• Student mentorship and supervision

 
Knowledge and Skills Required: 

• Extensive knowledge of sexual violence, trauma, recovery.
• Proven skills in counselling, group facilitation, crisis intervention, and advocacy with survivors of sexual assault/abuse.
• Demonstrated commitment to feminist, anti-violence/anti-oppression work.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong ability to multi-task and handle a high-volume workload in a busy work environment

 
Office hours are 9:00AM to 4:30PM; however, this role requires flexibility as there may be the need for evening and occasional weekend work.  
*Due to the COVID pandemic, staff are currently working remotely.
 
SASC offers a 35 hours/week, plus a generous benefits and vacation package. 
 
As an intersectional feminist organization, we strongly encourage applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of our community including those identify as Black, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, racialized, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. 
 
Please email your cover letter and resume as soon as possible to jobs@sascwr.org  as we are actively recruiting for this role. Your cover letter should include your salary expectations for this role.
 
We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls or email inquiries please.  

click here to submit a cover letter and resume!

Job Description

Job Summary
Reporting to the Director of Services, the Counselling Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Counsellor/Advocate Program.
 
This program provides supportive, strengths-based, non-judgmental advocacy, psycho-education, and individual and group counselling to survivors and their families who have been impacted by sexual violence.
 
Duties and responsibilities
Management and Administration:

• Provides support, coaching, training and supervision to SASC’s team of Counsellor/ Advocates. Uses a participatory leadership style to fully engage and motivate Program staff and will be the main point of contact for Counsellor/Advocates for case escalations and debriefs.
• Ensures provision of evaluation and performance reviews in consultation with the Director of Services
• Leads the hiring process for the Counsellor/Advocate Program, in partnership with the Director of Services.
• Ensures Counsellor/Advocate Program management including needs assessments, program design and development, implementation and evaluation.
• Provides input into, and ensures adherence to, all budgets in the Counsellor /Advocate Program.
• Ensures all staff are trained in and aware of their responsibilities regarding Program statistics. This role will champion the use of SASC’s statistics database (WISH) and ensure that all mandatory statistics are input correctly and submitted on time.
• Participates in project management on projects related to the Counsellor/Advocate Program.
• Ensures communication amongst the Counsellor/Advocate team and sets team meeting agendas and takes minutes of these meetings.
• Student Supervision: Coordinates with schools to arrange supervision (liaison); maintains contact with practicum supervisor; provides orientation; listens to student’s counseling sessions and provides feedback; provides weekly supervision and is available for support; completes student evaluations

 
Counsellor/Advocate Responsibilities:

• Provides counselling through the provision of one-on-one sessions for survivors of sexual violence. (8 sessions per week) Counselling includes intake, and completion of notes.
• Advocacy / Accompaniments: Makes appropriate referrals to other community services; accompaniments to court, hospital, police, mental health appointments, case conferences/consultations, VQRP hearings; communicates with other service providers to support clients; maintains and builds community partnerships; write letters of support and VQRP therapy reports; provides practical assistance.
• Administration: Maintains database and client files; responds to client inquiries; compiles intake packages; prepares for future sessions; completes monthly and quarterly stats; provides information about SASC to community members.
• Continuing Competency: Participates in development; stays up-to-date on the literature as well as what is going on in the community; maintains contact with sister agencies.

 
Additionally, in a small agency, it is often the case that work of a nature similar to that in each job is either assigned or known to be necessary to be done. As well, from time to time, work that is not similar in nature to the job may also be required to be done by individuals in any job in order to accomplish SASC’s mission.
 
Qualifications
 
Essential Requirements of Education / Experience:

• Related post-secondary degree/diploma in social services, related field or equivalent. MSW preferred.
• 3-5 years of management experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience providing support and advocacy to survivors of sexual violence.

 
Identified required skills/experience:

• Extensive knowledge of sexual violence, trauma, recovery.
• Proven skills in counselling, group facilitation, crisis intervention, and advocacy with survivors of sexual assault/abuse.
• Demonstrated commitment to feminist, anti-violence/anti-oppression work.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

 
Note: Incumbents to this role must attend and successfully complete volunteer training upon initial employment.
 
Communications
 
Excellent communication and interpersonal/human relations skills are critical in this role in order to communicate important concepts and deal with the more significant issues relating to clients or groups of people both within and outside the organization. The position participates at the senior level within the organization requiring input into strategic decisions.
 
Working Conditions
 
This job is currently performed remotely with some in-office requirements. As such, employees must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in order to work at SASC’s offices. This role is extremely demanding and fast-paced. Often work is required outside of regular work hours and employees are encouraged to flex their hours as appropriate to accommodate workloads. This job requires intense concentration during both individual and group counselling sessions. Repeated exposure to details of violence and assault can lead to vicarious trauma. The need for debriefing, self-care and balance is critical for incumbents in this position.
 
Direct reports
This role has 6-10 direct reports, including supervision of students.
 
Job descriptions will be reviewed at least annually as part of the performance review process.