Violence Against Women (VAW) Counsellor (Part-Time)

About CSSP

The Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP) is a trusted, community-rooted organization dedicated to supporting the Latin American and Spanish-speaking community in Toronto. With a 50+ year legacy of advocacy and culturally responsive services, we provide legal aid, gender-based violence support, settlement assistance, sexual health outreach, food programs, and more. Our work is grounded in anti-oppression, feminist, harm reduction, and trauma-informed frameworks, and reflects the realities and resilience of diverse Latinx communities.

Position Summary

The Violence Against Women (VAW) Counsellor will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate individual and group counselling services to all women, including but not limited to cisgender or other self identified women impacted by intimate partner violence, family violence, or sexual abuse. The position centers trauma-informed care within a Latinx/Spanish-speaking context and supports clients navigating intersecting barriers such as precarious immigration status, poverty, and systemic oppression. Services include counselling, safety planning, case management, outreach, and referrals.

This position plays a key role in our 2141 Jane Street office, collaborating closely with other Violence Against Women (VAW) Counsellors and a part-time Transitional Housing Support Worker.

Location: Toronto – 2141 Jane Street, North York
Contract Term: Permanent; 28 hours per week
Wage: $27.79 per hour: Start rate is non-negotiable and in accordance with collective agreement requirements
Bargaining Unit: This position is part of the OPSEU Local 512 bargaining unit.
Extended Health Care Benefits: This position is eligible to receive extended health care benefits, partly subsidized by the organization

Key Responsibilities

● Deliver trauma-informed counselling and psychoeducation in Spanish and English.
● Conduct intake, risk assessment, safety, and client-centered planning for women and their dependents ● Provide culturally safe crisis response and case management from a trauma-informed and anti-oppression Latinx perspective
● Support clients in accessing services including but not limited to legal aid, housing, mental health care, OW/ODSP, education/training, employment, and immigration support
● Advocate on behalf of clients with social services, legal, healthcare, and child welfare systems
● Develop and facilitate psychoeducational support groups
● Maintain accurate case notes and reports using a confidential case management system
● Collaborate with CSSP staff and external partners to ensure wraparound supports
● Participate in outreach, training, and community education as required
● Contribute to the development of funding proposals and support strategic fundraising initiatives as required
● Refer clients to appropriate institutions and organizations based on their identified needs.

Required Qualifications

This position requires a Social Work background—no exceptions.

● Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (MSW or BSW) Social Service worker or other related Social Service Degree or Diploma. Foreign trained education and experience will be considered.

● Registered and in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is considered an asset but not mandatory optional
● Demonstrated experience (minimum 2 years) in trauma-informed counselling or psychotherapy with women experiencing violence
● Deep understanding of Latin American cultural norms, migration realities, and gender dynamics
● Fully fluent in Spanish and English (verbal and written)
● Knowledge of the barriers faced by immigrant/refugee women in accessing services in Canada
● Strong knowledge of gender-based violence, intersectionality, harm reduction, safety planning, and crisis de-escalation
● Competency working within anti-oppression, feminist, and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive frameworks
● Familiarity with Ontario-area services including but not limited to shelters, legal clinics, and public health supports
● Excellent interpersonal, advocacy, and documentation skills
● Proficiency with digital platforms for virtual counselling (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, case management software)
● Experience working as part of a team, demonstrating strong listening and communication skills.
● Ability to work under pressure while managing multiple tasks in an organized manner, demonstrating

Assets

● Experience facilitating support or psychoeducational groups
● Lived experience of migration, displacement or community organizing in Latinx communities
● Knowledge of Ontario’s VAW and shelter system.
● Experience supporting clients with precarious immigration status.
● Training in suicide prevention, safety planning, and crisis de-escalation.
● Knowledge of Canadian immigration, legal and social support systems
● Experience and specialized training in engaging men who have used violence, with a focus on peer-to-peer learning, risk awareness, and practical strategies to support frontline workers transitioning from exclusively women-centered practice.

Working Conditions

● Hybrid model: in-person at CSSP’s main office (2141 Jane Street) and remote/home-based work.
● Occasional evening or weekend work may be required (for example: participation in organizational events)

Submit your resume and cover letter in one PDF file below by August 10th, 2025. Please include on the subject line: VAW Counsellor Application – ‘Your Name’.

CSSP is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from racialized individuals, Indigenous persons, members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, persons with disabilities, and those with lived experience of gender-based violence.