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26 Mar 2024

Full-Time Counsellor/Advocate, Anti-Human Trafficking Program

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region – Posted by hr@sascwr.org Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Job Description

The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region supports survivors of sexual violence. We listen, facilitate healing, and celebrate resiliency. Using an anti-racist, intersectional feminist approach, we work to transform systems that promote gender-based violence.

We’re recruiting for a full-time, permanent Counsellor/Advocate in our Anti-Human Trafficking Program! Reporting to the Manager of the Anti-Human Trafficking Program, the Counsellor/Advocate will provide wrap-around support, advocacy, accompaniments, and outreach to those experiencing sexual exploitation, and those at-risk, in Waterloo Region.

The Counsellor/Advocate will provide trauma-informed, intersectional, anti-oppressive care, and stabilizing services and supports that embrace harm-reduction, feminist approaches.

SASC acknowledges the important distinction between sex work and human trafficking/sexual exploitation and recognizes sex work as work.

Essential Requirements of Education / Experience:

  • Post-secondary degree or equivalent in the social services field, and/or 3+ years of relevant experience or equivalent.
  • A strong understanding of human trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.
  • Proven skills in support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy with survivors of gender-based violence.
  • Familiarity with community services (within and outside of Waterloo Region) to support people who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation or people at-risk.
  • Experience working with equity-deserving groups.
  • Experience supporting and advocating for survivors with mental health needs, addictions, safety concerns, and precarious housing.
  • Exceptional organizational, time-management, and communication skills.
  • A strong ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.
  • Strong interpersonal boundaries and professional ethics
  • A strong ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of clients in the program, including some evening and occasional weekend work.
  • A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
  • Must attend and successfully complete SASC’ s volunteer training program upon initial employment.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Direct Service

  • Provide ongoing, stabilizing counselling and support services to survivors of sexual exploitation (or those at serious risk of being exploited), 12 years of age and older.
  • Advocate for clients to support their needs around overall health, mental health, addictions, housing, education, income supports, etc. and provide related accompaniments.
  • Respond to client inquiries and provide crisis supports as necessary.
  • Conduct needs assessments for clients, as appropriate.
  • Act as a case manager for clients.
  • Create safety plans for clients, as needed.
  • Support clients through related legal processes, including court and police reporting
  • Connect clients with appropriate community services (within and outside of Waterloo Region).
  • Ensure client files are kept up to date and remain confidential.
  • Statistically track the support provided in our client database.
  • Provide practical assistance to clients, as needed and as resources permit.

Outreach / Public Education

  • Maintain partner relationships and network in the broader community for referrals.
  • Sit on external committees
  • Provide educational workshops to clients, community partners, and staff/volunteers

Working Conditions:

This job is partly performed in a comfortable office environment, with frequent travel around Waterloo Region to partner agencies and outreach locations including encampments, shelters, hospitals, and transition homes. Much of the work in the office involves sitting, but there is an opportunity to stand and move about.

This job requires intense concentration during meetings with clients. 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:

While no employees report to this position, our Counsellor/Advocate may supervise the work of students in the program.

Compensation and Benefits:

At SASC, all compensation ranges are grouped into pay “grades”, and we base our compensation structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s previous, related experience will be taken into consideration along with where current staff, with similar experience, are currently paid within the relevant pay grade.

We are a Living Wage employer as defined by the Ontario Living Wage Network. We use a 3:1 ratio meaning that the highest paid team member is not paid more than 3 times than the lowest paid team member.

Note: Most new team members will start at or close to the entry point of the range.

SASC has a 35-hour work week.

Pay Grade: 4

Min: $28.48 per hour; $51,833.60 per annum

Max: $33.50 per hour; $60,970.00 per annum

We have a health benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Employee Life Insurance, Dependent’s Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We pay 100% of health benefit premiums for our full-time staff and their families.

Due to the nature of our work, our staff team starts with four weeks of vacation. We also have 125 hours of paid time off per year. These amounts are pro-rated based on the team member’s start date.

We offer RRSP matching after one year of employment.

Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Statement:

We recognize that sexual violence disproportionately impacts women, trans, and non-binary people. We particularly recognize the impact of racism and colonialism on Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, girls, gender-diverse, and two-spirit survivors.

We acknowledge that the majority of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main office at 151 Frederick Street in Kitchener, Ontario is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on either side of the Grand River.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment. We adhere to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes accessible and provide accommodations as requested for applicants with differing abilities. Only information required to facilitate an accommodation will be shared with those involved in the recruitment process, otherwise accommodation requests will remain confidential. If you require accommodation at any point during the application and/or hiring process, please contact us at jo**@sa****.org.

Given all of this, we encourage applications from women, trans, and non-binary candidates, especially those who identify as Black, First Nations, Metis, Inuit, racialized, as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and/or as a person with a disability. We invite candidates to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a diverse and/or disenfranchised group as part of their application.

How to Apply:

This position requires the successful candidate have access to transportation and a Vulnerable Sector Police Check. A flexible schedule is required for evening and weekend work. This position is set to begin as soon as possible. Please submit a current cover letter and resume in one PDF document to jo**@sa****.org.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Unless you require accommodation, no phone calls or email inquiries, please.

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How to Apply

Please send resume including a cover letter to jobs@sascwr.org.

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

Job expires in 27 days.

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