Mom and Kids Too Counsellor

Program/Department Summary

Mom & Kids Too (MK2) program supports women who are pregnant or parenting young children (6 years and under) around their substance use concerns. It is offered regularly for three days a week for seven weeks. The program provides psycho-education and supportive counselling.

Position Purpose

Provides counselling services to individuals, groups, and family members for substance use and related concerns as required. Liaises with other professionals to create treatment plans for a broad range of substance use issues.

Responsibilities

Service

- Conduct client intake where designated.
- Assess clients needs to determine a service plan.
- Engage women in a therapeutic relationship to address their substance use, concerns, and/or parenting and child development issues.
- Engage in a variety of trauma-informed service strategies to help meet the needs of women with substance use, mental health and gambling concerns.
- Provide brief or longer-term individual and/or group counselling, that is trauma-informed.
- Engage in a variety of service strategies to help meet the clients’ needs including: facilitating and co-facilitating groups; individual counselling; assisting clients in the development of their goals; evaluation of client progress.
- Provide referrals and linkages for additional supports (such as mental health assessments, primary care, etc.).
- Liaise with existing supports and services for clients to promote seamless and integrated care.
- Engage in capacity building within agencies and across the mental health and substance use sector in the GTA for trauma-informed care.

Administration
- Maintain documentation of relevant client interactions and interventions, and contacts with collateral supports.
- Monitor the progress of clients, prepare reports and letters as necessary.
- Participate in community and service network meetings to promote awareness of targeted program and service needs of the target population.
- Participate in staff meetings, team development and supervision meetings.
- Collaborate with the supervisor to discuss job performance and establish professional goals.
- Engage in ongoing staff development and personal learning as agreed to in performance reviews.

Organizational
- Conduct job responsibilities with a commitment to harm reduction, trauma- informed, women-centred and anti-oppressive practices.
- Abide by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and work in a manner that is safe, reporting incidents immediately to direct supervisor.
- Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Jean Tweed Centre.
- Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of The Jean Tweed Centre.
- Maintain a client service orientation including learning about and addressing client needs and concerns.
- Work collaboratively including respect others, sharing information, consulting and celebrating shared successes.
- Demonstrate accountability by holding self responsible and following through on commitments.
- Support inclusion and equity by respecting others, embracing diversity and addressing oppression.
- Commit to continuous learning through professional development, giving and receiving constructive feedback and applying new skills.

Requirements

- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Nursing, Psychology or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Experience of 3 – 5 years in the field of addictions.
- Excellent communication and writing skills.
- Working knowledge of the social service system in the designated service area.
- Proficiency in computer skills.
- A demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
- Experience providing counselling and outreach services to individuals who are experiencing or have experienced problems related to substance use and mental health issues.
- Experience working from a harm reduction perspective.
- Experience working in community-based settings and familiarity with a community development approach.
- A demonstrated commitment to broadening knowledge and skills.