Human Resources Position Description: Counsellor



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Position Title:
.Counsellor
Department:
Support Services
Reporting to:
Manager of Support Services
Category:
Bargaining Unit
Last Updated:
08/27/2010
Hours per week:
37.50
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Summary:
This role is responsible for providing crisis and on-going counselling services to individuals, couples and families who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Specific duties and responsibilities will also include, but are not limited to the following and may be subject to change:


Counselling
  1. Provides individual, couple and family counselling which will include crisis and grief counselling to current clients as well as "walk-in" clients and other.
  2. Provides crisis and short-term counselling and emotional support to clients; assists to assess their situation, particularly with reference to their safety; provides information and assistance in naming appropriate strategies; provides information and referral to appropriate community resources.
  3. Conducts intake and assessment sessions for new or "walk-in" clients by collecting demographic information and identifying the psychosocial history and relationship to HIV.
  4. Identifies depression and suicide risks and makes referrals.
  5. Assesses needs such as the need for support or on-going counselling, financial assistance and home support and makes referrals.
  6. Responds to telephone calls on the Hotline and provides information, support and referral to callers.

Resource and Referral Service
  1. Acts as a resource for clients, volunteers, staff and community callers, making referrals to other HIV/AIDS related organizations and programs.
  2. Advocates on behalf of clients with health care providers and others to ensure client needs are met.
  3. Represents the agency on tasks forces and work groups related to assessment and development of new and existing services. Represents the agency at a variety of service related networks.
  4. Prepares and delivers workshops on HIV/psychosocial and related issues.
  5. Participate in community based networks, education and advocacy initiatives related to issues those living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS

Administration & General Duties
  1. Key enters clinical and statistical information and completes forms for clients related to benefits and assistance.
  2. Maintain case records and statistics, assist with writing proposals and reports.
  3. Assist with the ongoing evaluation, development and maintenance of all aspects of the counselling program, including evaluating the needs and services required
  4. Utilizes downtime in an effective manner i.e.; debriefing, grounding, reading relevant materials, reading agency communication tools, other agency duties.
  5. Participates on teams and external committees to plan, coordinate and deliver new and existing services, communicate information, resolve problems and achieve the goals of the organization.
  6. In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision-making and in building relationships.

Student Supervision
  1. Provides supervision and support to students.
  2. Evaluates student performance.
  3. Liaises with the Student Placement Coordinator to communicate information.