Position: Children’s Counsellor (Children Who Witness Violence Program)

Job Type: Full-time (35 hours/week), Hybrid, December 2024 – September 2025, with the possibility of extension

Reports to: The Manager, Crisis Intervention & Counselling Services

Salary and benefits: $54,600 per annum plus a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, RRSP, and generous leave entitlements

Application deadline: November 29, 2024

About IWSO

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO) is a community-based agency serving immigrant women.

IWSO’s mandate is to:

• Empower immigrant and racialized women to participate in the elimination of all forms of abuse against women and their children.
• Provide culturally responsive services to facilitate immigrant women’s access to community and mainstream services.
• Deliver programs to assist immigrant women in their journey to attain their full potential.

Position Summary

The Children’s Counsellor will provide individual/group counselling, facilitate parenting workshops, provide information and resources, develop services/programs, and advocate for abused immigrant women and children who witness gender-based violence.

Main Responsibilities:

• Perform client risk assessments and provide safety and protective strategies that support children and their families. Maintain a good working relationship within the agency and external relevant organizations.
• Coordinate with other child health experts, like child protection workers, pediatricians, and social workers to facilitate and ensure the psychological development of a child.
• Organize educational programs to educate adolescents or teenagers on the repercussions of high-risk behaviors and ways to adjust to them.
• Respond to requests for services for immigrant and refugee women and their children who are survivors of violence, human trafficking, divorce, displacement, and grief.
• Facilitate education sessions to families on children’s rights, and the impact of trauma on children’s development and their mental health.
• Educate family members on interventions for their child or how to respond to certain behaviors.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of service.
• Carry out other tasks as assigned by the Manager of Crisis and Counselling Services.
• Participate in team meetings and staff meetings.
• Participate in the decision-making processes of the organization by attending Board or Committee meetings when requested to do so or provide input on program and/or policy documents.

Qualifications

• Legally entitled to work in Canada.
• University degree in child psychology, a background in counselling in family systems and children’s counselling.
• A minimum of two years of experience working with children/youth.
• Strong counselling skills and the ability to deal with a range of child-related emotional and psychological issues.
• Ability to initiate and model positive change with excellent team-building skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate skills, knowledge, and experience working from a trauma-informed approach.
• Ability to apply an inclusive and intersectional lens while working with diverse communities.
• Knowledge of existing child-related community resources.
• Ability to develop programming and activities for children-survivors of violence.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time management, communication/writing, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Knowledge and experience of computer applications and database software.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is necessary, any additional languages are an asset.
• A Police Record Check for the Vulnerable Sector is required as part of the hiring process.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a cover letter and résumé by, November 29, 2024,6:00 pm to:

Search Committee: Children’s Counsellor Position, Immigrant Women Services Ottawa; Email: infomail@iwso.ca

IWSO welcomes and encourages applications from members of equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to, candidates who are racialized, indigenous, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. We thank you in advance for your interest. Only those candidates with the minimum qualifications will be contacted and considered for an interview.