Clinical Counsellor - Punjabi Speaking

Who We Are?

We are a crisis centre located in Surrey, and work in collaboration with the medical and justice communities for the safety and care of survivors and children escaping violence.

Why We Exist?

Our goal is to see gender-based violence diminish and one day disappear from our cultural lexicon. We empower survivors, and with your help we are changing the definition of ‘victim’.

Job type: Full- Time,* 35 hours, (*Monday-Friday)

Location: Counselling duties performed virtually and in-person

Wage: $43.15 an hour

Reporting Relationship: Counselling Coordinator and Executive Director

Benefits to working with Surrey Women’s Centre

• Three weeks paid vacation to start that grows the longer you are with SWC (pro-rated on your first year)
• An excellent employee benefits package including Short-term and long-term disability coverage (premiums are 100% paid by SWC)
• An Employee and Family Assistance program
• Generous leave provisions (sick time, special leaves)
• 3 paid self-care days a year
• 5 paid family responsibility days a year
• Women’s day paid day off
• Paid holidays
• Monthly clinical supervision sessions
• Regular team building and agency social events.
• Exciting in-house training opportunities
• Professional development funds
• A workplace that values collaboration, passion, continuous learning and integrity.

Job Summary:

Counsellors provide individual counselling and other related support to survivors who have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual assault, childhood abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. Services are provided from a feminist, anti-oppressive and trauma-based perspective.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Marketing

• Market the Surrey Women's Centre counselling programs to generate client referrals
• Promote Surrey Women's Centre counselling programs by presenting to various agencies, organizations and referral sources

Direct Client Services

• Provide 4-5 individual counselling sessions per day, with a combination of in-person and/or telehealth appointments as per client’s preference.
• Facilitate the survivor’s understanding of the impact of trauma, focusing on the behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical consequences of gender-based violence
• Explore alongside the survivor their past and present coping strategies with the goal of strengthening existing ones and developing new skills.
• Assess the safety of survivors and their children as well as support them in reducing safety risks.
• Provide support and information to survivors that strengthens their formal and informal support networks.
• Collaborate with other SWC team members, especially for those clients identified as “High-Risk”, to better coordinate support to the client.

Administration

• Maintain accurate up-to-date client records, including documentation of all client contacts, intake, assessment, relevant session notes, referrals to and consultation with community agencies and professionals and termination summary notes.
• When time permits, participate in public education, prevention work and other agency-wide events.
• Consult, network and liaise with community agencies and professionals to maintain up-to-date information on available resources, maintain positive community relations and build mutually beneficial partnerships.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Degree in a related human/social service field
• RCC, CCC & RSW designation or another related credential is required
• Registration with the Crime Victim Assistance Program. Preference will be given to counsellors who are registered with First Nations Health Authority.
• Experience working with survivors of gender-based violence and/or experience working in the anti-violence sector
• Experience in program development and evaluation is an asset

Knowledge and Skills

· Firm commitment to work from a feminist perspective and provide client-centred, trauma-informed services

· Strong understanding of dynamics present within experiences of gender-based violence

· Knowledge of feminist approaches to supporting survivors

· Knowledge of anti-oppressive & trauma-informed approaches to counselling

· Demonstrate ability to work with diverse clientele, and cultural competency.

· Demonstrate ability to work both independently and as a part of a team.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills.

· Excellent computer and administrative skills.

· Fluency and counselling proficiency in other language specifically Punjabi, to better serve our clients.

· Strong commitment to remain informed on the issues impacting survivors through reading professional development and other activities.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

· Successful completion of Criminal Record check

· Confidentiality as per Agency and legislative requirements

We thank all applicants for their interest but due to the high volume of applications, we will only be contacting shortlisted applicants. We review applications as they are received. This position is open until filled.

We strongly encourage applications from and prioritize hiring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including folks with lived experience, Indigenous people, and racialized peoples. We encourage, though don’t require, folks of these identities to indicate this on their cover letter.

We are an anti-violence organization supporting women and for that reason the employment opportunities are open to women only.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:

• counselling: 1 year (required)

Language:

• Punjabi (required)

Must have:

• RCC, CCC & RSW designation
• Registration with the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP).