job purpose

The Sexual Assault Counsellor is responsible for providing service to survivors of sexual assault, including individual and group counselling. The Sexual Assault Counsellor works with survivors to help them process their trauma, cope with the emotional and psychological effects, and develop a plan for healing and recovery. This may include providing crisis intervention and counselling, as well as connecting survivors with community resources and other forms of support.

qualifications

• Degree in social services, with an emphasis on group and individual counselling
• Three years working experience in sexual assault counselling
• Clear current Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Required Skills

• Demonstrates a strong feminist, women’s movement, anti-oppression/anti-racism, and trauma informed analysis, approach, and practice  
• Demonstrated knowledge of how to integrate a feminist perspective on social and political issues surrounding women’s issues, sexual assault, and violence against women
• Demonstrated understanding of the complexity of issues arising for women who have experienced abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and/or mental illness
• Demonstrated women’s advocacy skills and effective child/women-centered practice delivery  
• Excellent communications, listening and assessment skills  
• Demonstrated organizational and multi-tasking skills with proven ability to work in high-crisis environments 
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team with minimal supervision   
• Knowledge and proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications, in particular WISH database 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment 
• Demonstrates respect for diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others 
• A strong interest and understanding of issues affecting people who are impacted by gender-based violence (GBV), homelessness/houselessness, are living with a mental illness or substance use disorder, have complex health needs and/or identify as 2SLGBTQ+, 
• Knowledge of community resources available to assist women who have been sexually assaulted
• Knowledge of the complexity of issues arising for women who have experienced abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and/or mental illness 
• Knowledge and understanding of the impacts of sexual assault, sexualized violence, and gender-based violence
• Demonstrated skills in crisis response 

scope and responsibilities

counselling and case management

• Provides case management, direct support, and advocacy
• Performs feminist model individual and group counselling for women who are survivors of sexual assault
• Provides a safe environment in which women are encouraged to learn about, identify, and express their feelings
• Works within a harm reduction framework
• Educates women on topics including sexual violence, conflict resolution, alternatives to abusive expressions of anger and other emotions, and self-esteem
• Uses a trauma informed perspective to support survivors of sexual assault or sexualized violence through active listening, debriefing, and validating client’s emotions
• Facilitates the development of individual support systems
• Organizes, advertises, and facilitates the development of peer support groups for sexual assault survivors in the community
• Responds to crises and requests for information from the community
• Develops case plans with women served and other Women’s House staff as required
• Assists women in prioritizing options and developing action plans, and provides appropriate support and assistance in following through on their chosen options
• Develops and maintains partnerships with other relevant service providers, ensuring case coordination of activities

Intake, screening and programming

• Assesses the suitability of Women’s House services for referrals of prospective women served and makes referrals when services are not appropriate
• Provides comprehensive assessment of each new referral
• Completes risk assessment and safety plans for women served
• Ensures that intake is a positive experience for women served
• Develops and supervises a program of enrichment activities for women
• Provides court support, as required
• Demonstrates effective, responsive, and ethical service delivery
• Participates actively in the development of goals and objectives for the program, and in program evaluation
• Maintains relations with local community groups/services and community partners
• Fosters and advocates for social and political change on behalf of sexually assaulted and abused women
• Communicates the role of programs to others in the community
• Maintains and ensures appropriate record keeping of individuals served and statistical data, and submits accurate monthly statistical reports to Manager on time
• Contributes to, and maintains, pertinent resource materials, and researches credible resources

agency-wide

• Participates actively in staff meetings, agency development and training, and contributes to an overall team approach
• Maintains and establishes an in-depth knowledge of all agency programs, and liaises effectively with these programs
• Follows all Women’s House policies and procedures

Supervision

• Participates actively in supervision sessions with the Outreach Manager
• Communicates concerns, issues, and problems affecting job performance and program quality to the Outreach Manager
• Deals effectively with job related stress, including accessing need for time off and/or professional development
• Performs other job-related duties as requested by the Outreach Manager

health and safety

• Works in compliance with the Occupation Health and Safety Act (OHSA) & follows all health & safety policies & procedures
• Takes reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone who may be at risk
• Identifies and corrects issues that can be addressed immediately
• Cooperates with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), and assists inspectors in carrying out their duties
• Elects JHSC representatives
• Participates in hazard analysis, as required
• Reports to Managers anything at work that is likely to be unsafe or hazardous to the health & safety of staff or anyone else & any contravention of the OHSA
• Reports every accident, injury, illness, or other occurrence arising in the course of, or in connection with work, that has caused injury to staff or another person
• Participates in health and safety orientation, education, and training
• Respects the confidentiality of all Women’s House information, including information pertaining to women/children served, staff, volunteers, and organizational operations
• Maintains a valid driver’s license, access to a car, and two million liability insurance on vehicle
• Maintains valid Standard First Aid and CPR-C certification

Working conditions

Works as part of the Outreach team, in a unionized position in various locations within the community and with an office in either the Kincardine Outreach building or Owen Sound building.

Works a 36-hour work week but may be required to work variable day, evening, night and/or weekend hours.

Physical effort and environment

The normal physical working environment is comfortable, indoors in an office or meeting space. Physical demands require extensive computer work, concentration and sitting, and lifting/carrying items. Regular travel to various locations in Bruce and/or Grey County is required.

Mental effort

The mental strain resulting from the work of the Sexual Assault Counsellor ranges from moderate to considerable dependent on the number of individuals served and program dynamics. The role of the Sexual Assault Counsellor is mentally demanding and requires significant emotional resilience and cognitive effort. The Sexual Assault Counsellor works with individuals in extreme crisis and distress, with continuous exposure to traumatic stories. A thorough understanding of the potential for compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary traumatic stress is paramount.

Direct reports

None

My signature acknowledges that I have read and understood this job description, and that it has been reviewed with me.

________________________________ ______________________________

Staff Signature Date

There are currently two (2) full-time, permanent Sexual Assault Counsellor positions available at Women’s House; one (1) in Kincardine, ON and one (1) in Owen Sound, ON

Submit applications to Alana Eadie at hr@whsbg.on.ca by February 28, 2025 @ 4:00pm

Women’s House is committed to diversity and values the contribution of its employees from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We welcome applications from Indigenous persons, visible minority group members, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who contribute to greater diversity of perspectives.

By Email: hr@whsbg.on.ca

OUR MISSION

Women’s House provides a safe haven for victims/survivors, knowing that ending violence is a community responsibility. We will work towards ending violence through knowledge, which is power, in order to create change.

OUR VISION

We envision a world where women are empowered, and women and children are safe, secure, and free from violence.

OUR PRINCIPLES

1. It is a basic human right to be free from abuse and sexual violence. Also it is a basic human right to have safety, dignity, respect, social and economic justice, self determination and to contribute to society in our own manner.

2. Abuse and sexual violence are societal problems, yet generally perceived as private matters. Community has an obligation to become involved in these issues.

3. Education is necessary to bring about effective changes in attitude. We believe in challenging statements and beliefs that minimize the seriousness of racism, oppression, abuse and sexual violence.

4. Children’s lives are traumatized by exposure to abusive environments. Their witnessing and normalizing of violence perpetuates the cycle. Their needs are specific and distinct from the needs of their parents.

5. We believe in fostering, sustaining and affirming women’s culture and diversity and that they are sources of enrichment and strength.

6. We value the reality of every individual’s experience and acknowledge and respect their uniqueness and understand that Individuals may display a variety of behaviours as coping strategies. However, safety of the woman shall be the primary focus of any intervention and she shall receive sensitive, immediate and appropriate service.

7. We believe that poverty, hunger and homelessness are safety issues that keep women and children in abusive situations.

8. Women’s House recognizes that all women face misogyny and sexism, however some bear an additional burden of oppression due to racism and other forms of oppression.

9. We believe that systemic racism, discrimination, and oppression based on race, religion, class, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, and ability must be addressed as part of an integrated approach to ending poverty, abuse, sexual violence, and homelessness in the lives of women.

10. Networking, partnerships and resource building with other community partners is essential in order to best serve the needs of women experiencing abuse and /or sexual violence.

11. A coordinated community approach to service delivery is essential in order to provide options and information about services and the impacts of abuse and sexual violence so that the victim/survivors can make informed choices.

12. We believe that the abuser is responsible for his/her behaviour and should be held accountable. Society must develop a policy of zero tolerance for abuse and sexual violence.

13. Women’s House believes in being accountable to the victims and survivors who use our services.