High Risk and VQRP+ Crisis Intervention Counsellor

Victim Services of Peel (VSOP) is a registered charity, our mission is to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed,culturallyresponsive,24/7supporttoindividualsandcommunitiesinBramptonandMississauga, helping them recover from the impactof crime or sudden tragedies.VSOP works in close partnership with Peel Regional Police and community partners to fulfill its mission and mandate.

Position Summary

The position supports the High-Risk Program in providing crisis intervention, immediate wrap around support, safety devices and planning, short-term case management, system navigation, linkages and referrals to long term community supports,andcompletingeligibleVQRP+applicationsforindividualsexperiencing incidentsofmajorcrime in the communities of Brampton and Mississauga.Incidents of major crime include high risk intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, serious assault, homicide etc.

Essential Functions

Direct Service Responsibility

• Assessandprovidecrisissupportservices, system navigation, short-termcasemanagement, andreferrals/linkages to appropriate services and/or agencies within the community via the telephone and/or in person (office/ in community/ on scene attendance).
• Conductindividualized safety planning with persons who have been victimized through crime or tragic circumstance.
• Assessment client eligibility for personal mobile GPS alarms of PPG clients, onboard clients for the mobile GPS alarm including assisting the client complete all necessary paper work, liaise with PRP and Safetracks, test and monitor GPS alarm ongoing, maintain a waitlist and statistical data.
• Assess the critical care needs and enhanced services of persons (HT, IPV clients) immediately following their victimization and facilitate linkages to community-based services, and case management. Facilitate follow-up contacts with victims to ensure their safety and address requests for additional support services.
• AssessVQRP+eligibility,andfacilitateVQRP+supports
• RespondtocrisissituationsandrequestsfromPeelRegionalPoliceandothercommunityservices for victim assistance via telephone and/or in person (office/ scene attendance).
• Conduct needs assessment to provide relevant information and refer clients to long term case management programs within and outside Victim Services of Peel (VSOP).
• Advocate on behalf of clients and liaise with other community agencies and professionals regarding clients to provide wraparound, system navigation, and short term case management support.
• Maintain confidential client files and document client case notes within the VSOP database. Discusswithindividualsandfamiliesthe effects ofcycleofviolenceandtheeffectsofviolenceon children, along with other relevant VAW (Violence Against Women) information.
• CoverCrisisResponseProgramshiftsinemergencieswhenrequired.
• Otherdutiesasassigned.

Education and Training Responsibilities

• Supportvolunteersbyattendingvolunteertrainingoneweekendtwiceayear.
• Supporttrainingofvolunteerse.g.withshadowshiftsorinofficeasrequired.
• Participateincommunitypresentations&fundraisinginitiativesasrequired.
• Supervisestudentplacementsintheprogram.
• Supporttheonboardingprocessfornewin-officecrisisvolunteersandstaff.
• Superviseaplacementstudent.

Administrative and Organizational Responsibilities

• Maintainandreconcile VQRP+ receipts andinvoices from theMinistryofChildrenandCommunitySocialServicestoensure all payments are made and reimbursed.
• Completeallrequiredstatisticalreports.
• Completemonthlyreportsasdeterminedbysupervisor.
• ActivelyparticipateinmonthlysupervisionsessionswithDirectorofClientServices,including an annual performance appraisal.
• Activelyparticipateinstaffmeetings
• Participateinagencyfundraisingevents.
• Representagencyoncommittee(s)asdeterminedbyDirectorofClientServices.
• Maintaingoodstaffandcommunityrelationships.
• Participateinrelevantworkshopsandseminarstodevelopnewskillsasrequiredbytheagency.
• Otherrelateddutiesasassigned.

Job Specifications Education

• College or university diploma/degree in social or human services field including, but notlimited to Social Work, Social Service Worker.

Experience and Knowledge

• Minimumof 1-2 yearsexperienceworkingwithinacommunityagencyprovidingcommunity-based crisis intervention support, short term counselling, case management and advocacy services.
  • Knowledgeanddemonstratedabilitytoworkfroma clientcentered,anti-oppression, harm reduction,and trauma informed frameworks.
  • Strongassessment,interviewingandcrisisinterventionskills,includingsuicideriskassessment and safety planning particularly for those at risk of harm from intimate partner violence.
  • Knowledgeoflegalsystem(bothcriminalandfamilylaw),intimatepartnerviolence,trauma, and the criminal justice system.
  • GeneralknowledgeofthesocialservicesystemandcommunityresourcesintheRegionofPeel.
  • Bilingualismand/orabilitytospeakFrenchand/orlanguagespredominantintheRegionofPeel will be considered a strong asset.
  • Understandsanddemonstratesexperienceofworkingwithdiversecommunitieswithinthe Region of Peel.
  • Demonstratesability tobeflexibleandtoworkunderpressure.
  • Excellentinterpersonal,written,and verbalcommunicationskills.
  • Demonstratestimemanagementskillsandefficiencyinmulti-tasking.
  • Computerproficiency.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, act with diplomacy and professionalism while exercising sound judgement in work with clients and external agencies.
  • Flexibility,timemanagementandmulti-taskingskills.
  • Excellentinterpersonalskillswiththeabilitytouseconflictresolutionskillsasnecessary.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced environment at times means working under pressure due to thenature of a crisis environment.
  • ComputerproficiencyincludingMicrosoftOfficeandexperienceworkingwithaclientdatabase.

Working Conditions

• Flexiblehours(someweekendsandevenings)
  • PositionwillrequireworkingfromtheVSOPoffice locations including,attendingscenesinthecommunity
    • Hybridmodel:twodaysonsiteoneweek,threedaysonsitesecond week
    • Pleasenote: TheHybridworkingmodelcanchangeto aninofficeworkingmodelwith appropriate notice.
    • Flexibleworkinghourstomeettheneedsofclientsandagency.
    • Beavailabletocoverpeers’onsitescheduleduringtheirvacation
    • Vacation/absencesneedtobe coordinated withpeers sothatthereisalwaysatleastone High Risk counsellor onsite
  • Successful completion of a Peel Regional Police detailed criminal background check and annual renewal check is required to secure and maintain employment.
  • Positionrequiresshiftworkonrotatingbasis
    • Includes working weekendsand statutory holidays as required.
  • Accesstoacaranddriver’slicenseisrequired;possessionofClass‘G’Licenseispreferable.
    • A vehicle including a minimum of $1 million automobile insurance policy with public liabilityandpropertydamagecoverage;proofofinsurancemustbeprovidedonanannual basis.
  • Allresponsibilitiesaretobeperformedinkeepingwiththephilosophicalframeworksetoutinthe Vision, Mission, and Values of VSOP.