Reliability Engineer

Gang Trauma Counsellor, LEGIT-Plus - Contract until June 2025

Regional Municipality of York, ON, Canada Req #321

Thursday, January 23, 2025

360°kids is a vitally important community agency serving all of York Region. We have been a leader in the delivery of innovative support services for more than 35 years as we work to improve the lives of unhoused and marginalized youth and families in York Region. At 360°kids, we provide a unique continuum of care approach with programs and services that are essential to the health and well-being of youth. These proven strategies help to keep youth safe by providing stable housing options with 360° wraparound supports.

The Gang Trauma Counsellor will provide short term trauma counselling support and case management for 360°kids’ clients including at-risk youth and families. The Adult Gang Trauma Counsellor will provide counselling in a non-threatening, supportive, client-centered format where access to assessment and supports/resources are made available. Counselling focuses on personal and social development; trauma; behavioural change; cultural demands and expectations; and reintegration of young adults with their families or transitioning to independent living.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide community-based mental health trauma counselling supports to 360°kids’ clients and their families.
• Assess the needs of young adults and their families and provide in-home, community, and agency-based service as required.
• Work within a young-adult-focused, stages of change, family-centered approach to service delivery, establishing a working relationship with young adults and families that demonstrates respect and honest communication, including protective factors.
• Work together with young adults and families to improve community connections and access to community resources and connect young adults and family members with other agencies in the community including other 360°kids’ programs.
• Conduct assessments and intake interviews with clients in a variety of locations which may include virtual platforms, low-income settings (hostels, drop-in centers); public areas (parks, sidewalks, ravines); and institutional settings (hospitals, courthouses), determining eligibility based on functional, income, employment, and housing status, and making recommendations based on needs.
• Conduct in-person or virtual/telephone meetings with young adults to assess needs, set goals, and begin movement towards minimizing crisis and increasing stability.
• Resolve conflict situations including client complaints and disputes. Listen, mediate, negotiate and provide support and guidance to resolve issues and document outcomes.
• Ensure effective service delivery to the client by documenting information, observations, and impressions that may impact a client’s case plan where appropriate.
• Encourage young adults’ engagement with community services by making referrals and reducing barriers to accessing outside supports and services, by accompanying them to agencies, and helping them access information about services.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of clients when in contact with them.
• Deliver group presentations and education or information tables on the young adult’s gang intervention services or on special interest topics to young adults, school professionals, community groups, or agencies towards young adults and community engagement.
• Report regularly to the Clinical team lead and team lead Gang intervention programs regarding issues of need and/or concern. In the event of a crisis or critical incident, immediately report to the appropriate level.
• Facilitate community collaboration with key partners and/or build capacity for partnerships with populations such as LGBTTQ, mental health, addictions, diversity councils, faith-based assemblies, education bodies, justice panels, police, and community committees.
• Provide case management practices including conducting interviews, compilation of social histories, and comprehensive assessment of strengths and needs of clients.
• Complete all mandatory recording and reporting including daily documentation, statistical data collection, and completing registration forms.
• Connect with staff from other programs and community agencies (e.g., hospitals, social workers, doctors, courts, immigration, shelters, drop-ins, health clinics, legal programs) to provide program information or advocate for transfers/placements of clients.
• Represent the organization and program relationship as required with various segments of the community including schools, Children’s Aid Society, partner agency, clients, and parents.
• With the Team leader Gang Intervention Program and the Manager Youth Clinical Services, create and implement approved strategies and plans that will result in the achievement of the program’s goals and objectives.

Education & Skills Required:

• Master’s degree in social work or psychology. Minimum 3 years’ experience required working with at-risk youth and/or street-involved people.
• Experience working with young adults (18-30 yrs.) involved in gangs or gun activities would be an asset.
• Clinical trauma training and experience in individual and family assessment and treatment.
• Experience with MS Office, with the ability to prepare and write reports and maintain documentation.
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training & ASSIST training.
• Current first aid/CPR certification and current vulnerable sector screening (criminal background check).
• Car and valid driver’s license with a clean driver’s abstract.
• Experience in assisting persons with psycho/social/physical, educational, emotional, and/or environmental issues in a variety of locations.
• Possesses strong personal ethics and integrity, as well as exceptional interpersonal skills, including influencing, consensus/team building, facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution, management, leadership, motivation, delegation, coaching/mentoring, and empowerment.
• Effective communicator, both orally and in writing, with all levels of staff, the public, and clients while maintaining objectivity.
• Case management skills including record keeping, client service, and building capacity through a team approach. Ability to work independently as well as a team member in a dynamic, complex environment and organize time and workload effectively.

360°kids is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible organization. We are dedicated to having a workforce that reflects the diversity of York Region with a variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome and encourage applicants from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

Accommodation will be provided throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Applicants that require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to notify the People and Culture Department when contacted for an interview. We will work with you to meet your access needs in an equitable and inclusive way.

Upon joining 360°kids, you'll be welcomed into a fun and collaborative environment where we truly value our employees and want to see them succeed. We thank everyone for their interest and appreciate the time put into applying, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.