Community Counsellor

Key Responsibilities

As a Community Counsellor, you will:

•Provide compassionate, individual-centred care, fostering trust and rapport with the people we support (PWS).

•Conduct counselling sessions for individuals, couples, and families, and co-create therapeutic treatment plans by assessing needs, risks, and barriers to service.

•Demonstrate an understanding of challenges faced by diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and the Latin American population in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and Lower Mainland.

•Provide one-on-one support and facilitate access to appropriate resources, collaborating with external partners to ensure best practices.

•Provide outreach support, brief intervention, and advocacy as needed.

•Maintain accurate and confidential documentation, including clinical session notes, timesheets, reports, and expense records.

•Collaborate with the team by participating in case planning, meetings, training sessions, and other program activities.

•Facilitate group counselling, social programs, and community education activities as requested.

•Keep the Director of Community Teams informed of progress, key developments, and any unusual occurrences in a timely manner.

• Support cultural connection opportunities for the community in general, especially Indigenous peoples, including LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and other diverse and vulnerable communities we support.

Requirements

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or a minimum of three years of relevant experience supported by a college diploma or appropriate certification.

• Experience providing counselling to individuals, couples, and families, including treatment planning and assessment of needs, risk factors, and barriers to service.

• Experience working with Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, vulnerable communities, and/or populations in the Downtown Eastside.

• Strong understanding of the challenges faced by diverse communities in the DTES and Lower Mainland.

• Knowledge of therapeutic substance misuse approaches and recovery-based programs.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to foster trust and rapport with diverse individuals and communities.

• Proficiency with computers and relevant technologies.

• A valid BC driver’s license (considered an asset).

• Successful completion of a criminal record check.