Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor

Building Multicultural Communities (BMC) is a charity established in 1987 that provides settlement and social services to newcomers, immigrants and the larger community in the Peel Region. Our mandate and core business is to enable less advantaged individuals, families and groups in the community to reach their full potential, enhance their life skills, and create a better future. BMC has a variety of specialized programs that cater to specific demographics and focus on providing different services such as (Settlement, Mental Health, Youth Development, Employment, and Seniors Support) making BMC a one-stop-shop for needed services. As a Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor, you will be responsible for providing counselling and support services to newcomer individuals and families experiencing mental health issues. This may include confidential individual, family or group counselling, support for families dealing with mental health issues and/or referrals to treatment. Model of service is intensive case management.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program planning, development, monitoring, case management, evaluation & documentation
• Provide intake assessments and work with clients and their families as assigned
• Provide ongoing confidential counselling and case management using various theoretical frameworks and interventions in relation to individual client / family needs
• Promote the meeting of basic needs (housing, medical care, nutrition, etc.)
• Facilitate the development of daily living and social skills
• Prepare and provide short and long-term plans and offer psycho-education and support to clients and families impacted by serious mental illness
• Assist clients to identify their need for treatment programs and provide appropriate referrals
• Initiate, maintain, and update accurate client reports, case notes, files, assessment forms, and other information as required
• Assist in the operation of agency's programs & services including information updating, filing, compiling monthly statistics, activity and outcome report monthly, quarterly, yearly basis
• Maintain internal and external statistics/reports utilizing internal database
• Research, develop, and prepare materials related to client intervention and services
• Liaise with other services (e.g. medical, psychiatric, legal, housing, etc.) and advocate on behalf of the client
• Conduct community education sessions and workshops with the goal of reducing stigma associated with mental illness
• Distribute promotional material about the services for newcomers at BMC service locations and creating awareness of our services in the community
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions as required
• Any other duties related to the settlement services and this position
• Reports to Executive Director or his/her designate 

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counselling or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years work experience in mental health and addictions or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to apply relevant theoretical models to practice and experience
• Ability to utilize verbal de-escalation techniques to effectively provide crisis intervention
• Experience working with individuals and families (including children & youth)
• Extensive knowledge of the immigration system, and services available to assist newcomers, refugees and their families
• Well-developed knowledge and sensitivity of settlement, social and cultural issues and barriers experienced by women and children, who have experienced abuse and a demonstrated capacity to develop and implement programs to effectively respond to these issues and barriers
• Demonstrated skills in case management, assessment and intervention, advocacy
• Ability to multitask while maintaining high level of accuracy in data collection
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication, presentation and facilitation skills
• Ability to work with diverse people and communities with awareness to socio-economic and cultural barriers
• Capability to handle multiple priorities with ease and professionalism; able to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
• Fluent in English and ability to speak, read and write Punjabi/Urdu/ Hindi is a definite asset.
• Strong communication (oral and written), and computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.) and Web based databases (CTIMS)
• Adaptive to flexible working hours including evenings and weekends as needed
• Police Record Check for Vulnerable Sector is required as part of the hiring process
• Must have own transposition, driver license and insurance to use your vehicle for job related travelling