1526 Dresden Row, 4th Floor Halifax, NS B3J 3K3
P: (902) 422-4240 E: info@avaloncentre.ca

SANE Program Business P: (902) 422-6503

W: www.avaloncentre.ca

Employment Opportunity: Community Trauma Therapist

Full-time and Part-time (.5) Permanent Positions Available

Positions:

Central Zone (1)

Northern Zone (4)

Eastern Zone (5)

Western Zone (4)

Location:

Central (Sheet Harbour and surrounding area)

Northern Zone (Truro, Pictou, Amherst, Shubenacadie, Millbrook)

Eastern Zone (Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury, Bay of St. Lawrence, Sydney, and surrounding areas)

Western Zone (Annapolis Royal, Greenwood, Kentville, Wolfville)

Avalon is committed to building a diverse staff team and encourages applications from candidates from equity-deserving groups who bring important perspectives to this work. Members of equity-deserving groups face collective barriers to participating in society due to historic, social, attitudinal, and environmental marginalization based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and other systemic challenges to equal access, opportunities and resources. Avalon supports leadership and employment opportunities for all gender identities.

Please note that designated positions are held for individuals who identify as Mi'kmaq or Indigenous, First Nations (Status or Non-Status), African Nova Scotians, and other racialized populations. To be considered for this position, Avalon invites applicants to self-identify of their designation status within their application.

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is seeking applicants for the position of Community Trauma Therapist as part of the Community Based Sexualized Violence Trauma Therapy Program. This provincial program prioritizes community-based therapeutic services and includes delivering services in community spaces.

Reporting to the Provincial Program Manager, the Community Trauma Therapist will provide individual and group therapeutic counselling services to individuals 15 years and older of all gender identities, who have experienced sexualized and gender-based violence.

At Avalon, we believe that the response to sexualized violence must be community-driven and inclusive. We are deeply committed to feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive values, and approach our work by centering equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are a proudly unionized workplace that is dedicated to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and holistic staff environment. We are seeking a dynamic team member with a passion for delivering trauma-informed, culturally responsive, community-based support services for individuals impacted by sexualized violence.

Responsibilities

Direct Counselling Related Duties

• Provide individual and culturally relevant therapeutic counselling sessions for clients in all stages of the work
• Participate in regular individual supervision and team peer consultation sessions

Administrative Duties

• Record and maintain updated formal client records in accordance with professional college requirements
• Enter and maintain updated client profiles and client session statistics on Jane App
• Ensure inactive client files are closed in a timely manner
• Assist with maintaining intake and waitlists as needed

Professional Liaising/Training

• Collaborate with internal and external community partners to ensure smooth referrals and client bridging between programs
• Network and strengthen professional relationships and referrals with key external organizations
• Ensure therapy skills remain updated in accordance with professional College requirements
• Ensure ongoing training around culturally relevant best practice
• Provide occasional professional training and presentations when time and resources allow

Other duties as required

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirement

• Graduate level degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychotherapy or Psychology and registered with associated regulatory body (NSCSW, NSCCT). Registration must be in good standing with the regulatory body
• 3+ overall years of experience in providing individual counselling, crisis support, and advocacy in the areas of sexualized and gender-based violence
• 1+ years of post-graduate specialized experience related to sexual assault/abuse with a focus on therapeutic counselling considered an asset
• Experience working with diverse and marginalized populations is essential
• Advanced training, knowledge and skills in working with complex relational trauma and dissociation considered an asset
• Strong knowledge of local community organizations and systems to facilitate referrals, collaboration and networking is preferred

Additional Competency Requirements

• Ability to engage and remain present with people who are activated in crisis states
• Knowledge of the intersectional dimension of systemic inequalities, including but not limited to racism, colonialism, sexism/misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, classism/poverty, ableism, ageism, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in networking, advocating and collaborating to improve marginalized populations’ access to services
• Proven ability to work as part of a collaborative team following relational values and practices
• Able to consult with supervisor in addressing challenging client situations and in monitoring and addressing vicarious traumaPsychological Demands
• Working with clients who are at different stages of emotional healing and recovery
• Assisting and supporting clients experiencing extreme crisis states
• Manage a full-time caseload of clients who have experienced sexual assault/abuse
• Exposure to systems causing re-traumatization and secondary harm
• Vicarious trauma impacts due to the inherent risk associated with providing direct services to individuals who have experienced sexualized violence

Why Work for Avalon?

Avalon recognizes and values the complexity and skill required in providing support to historical and acute traumas. As a proudly unionized and anti-oppressive workplace we are committed to fostering an organizational culture that actively promotes healthy work-life balance and invests in the support and growth of staff. This includes:

• 20 paid vacation days
• 15 paid wellness days
• Employer shared health benefits package and RRSP contribution
• Employer paid professional development
• Internal promotion and advancement opportunities
• Value and appreciation of lived experience
• Flexible working location
• Travel allowance
• Internal practice groups and clinical supervision
• Supportive and responsive team regarding vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout

Working Conditions

• Hours: 35 hours/week (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30 pm OR 9:00am to 5:00pm, with 1-hour unpaid lunch break) with occasional evening work subject to Program Manager approval
• Travel: Must have access to a reliable vehicle. The position will require travelling to surrounding areas to provide services.
• SEIU Local 2: Avalon is a unionized workplace. The successful candidate for this position will be a bargaining unit member with SEIU Local 2.
• Compensation: $75,000

To Apply

Please clearly identify the community or communities you wish to provide service in.

Please send your resume and cover letter to Megan Thompson Program Manager at Megan@avaloncentre.ca. Applications will be accepted until August 31, 2023.

Job Types: Permanent, Part-time, Full-time

Salary: From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• RRSP match
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Nova Scotia: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Please clearly identify the community or communities you wish to provide service in.

Education:

• Master's Degree (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2023-08-31