Friends of Ruby

Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, aged 16-29 through mental health services, social services, and housing. Friends of Ruby offers Youth Mental Health services, a Youth Drop-In Centre, and a Transitional Home. The Centre provides access to barrier-free counselling and therapeutic groups, case management and a drop-in space with hot meals, community, and comprehensive programming. The Home provides transitional and emergency housing, as well as mental health and life-skills to support youth moving towards independent living.

Friends of Ruby recognize that a diverse work force is critical to accomplishing our mission. Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We strongly encourage applications from the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, and diverse backgrounds that meet the requirements of the job posting. We suggest applicants introduce themselves, their stories and lived experiences in their cover letter to the degree they are comfortable with.

Position Summary

We are looking for a talented clinician who identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to provide mental health and counselling support to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, including those with intersectional identities of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). We encourage members of the BIPOC community to apply.

Reporting to the Clinical Program Manager, the Clinical Counsellor will provide single session and short-term counselling, along with utilizing ongoing counselling skills to youth, using evidence-based practices aligned with needs identified at the time of intake and assessment to Friends of Ruby. The counsellor will also work with Drop-in participants and Friends of Ruby’s Home resident.

The Clinical Counsellor will plan and facilitate clinical groups dedicated to topics such as skills for safer living, coping and emotion management skills and mindfulness practices. The Clinical Counsellor provides crisis support to address immediate crisis, including suicide risk assessment, safety planning, emotional de-escalation, resources and referral, or connecting with emergency responders if necessary.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Utilizing strengths-based, trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches, the Clinical Counsellor will:

Formulate treatment plans and provide therapeutic counselling using a range of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to MBCT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Trauma-informed Counselling, Participant-Centred Therapies and/or Brief Solution Focused Therapy
Provide short-term counselling, including the delivery of a Brief Solution Focused Therapy pilot project
Using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach, create safety plans with 2SLGBTQIA+and BIPOC participants assessing immediate and longer-term needs and goals
Working from a multi-disciplinary framework partner with psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to best meet the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth
Connect participants to other Friends of Ruby`s programs when appropriate and liaise with peers from those programs to best support 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants to meet their needs; refer to external service providers as needed
Facilitate Friends of Ruby’s group counselling and therapeutic programs, including but not limited to DBT skills group, Skills for Safer Living and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Complete participants Intake Assessments
Actively participate in team meetings and individual/group clinical supervision
Support students, ensuring confidentiality, collection of data and completion of case file documentation as required
Occasionally support the overseeing of the Drop In area and monitor the overall physical and emotional safety of the space; managing potentially escalating situations
Provide same-day crisis counselling, completing risk assessments and safety planning
Manage crisis, recognize and provide appropriate intervention as needed. Address youth conflict directly and respectfully. Teach and model effective problem solving and conflict negotiation
Participate in the on-call crisis line rotation
Work collaboratively with other teams in matters relating to communication, evaluation and different initiatives in support of the Organization’s mission
Maintain clinical records and completion of administrative tasks
And other duties, as directed, for the delivery of the department’s strategic priorities and/or to meet key deadlines

Skills and Experiences

Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, or in a related field and/or comparable work experience
Membership in good standing with the college of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists (RSW or RP), or other counselling college
Provide trauma informed individual and group therapeutic services
3-5 years of experience providing clinical counselling and support to 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth in issues related to mental health, trauma, violence, self-injurious behavior, transitioning and/or coming out, substance use, family support and relationships
Demonstrated commitment to social justice, harm reduction, anti-racism, anti-oppression, strengths-based, trauma-informed, participant-centered practices and ability to implement them in work with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth
Must be able to work in the following 3 modalities: short-focused, group, and individual
Experience in group facilitation, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices; training and/or experience with modalities including but not limited to MBCT, CBT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and/or Trauma-informed Counselling are considered an asset
Knowledge and experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth and the ability to work from a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, culture, religion, immigration, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc.
Knowledge in suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention skills and safety planning; and ability to manage conflict, crises and escalating situations calmly and confidently
Possess the lived experience, knowledge, and cultural experiences required to address the specific issues trans, non-binary or gender queer youth face including trauma and transphobia, safely and effectively
Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team, to problem solve, and to remain flexible and able to adapt within a busy and changing environment, and excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills

Additional Requirements

Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Police Check Program
Must be qualified to legally work in Canada
Willing to work onsite Monday to Friday at the Friends of Ruby Drop-In Youth Centre located in downtown Toronto or Friends of Ruby satalie offices
Willing to work on a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the organization, working evenings, and on-call on occasions
Ability to travel to other community-based settings as needed This position may be working from multiple locations, or based in a satalie office, where flexibility and autonomy is required

COVID-19 Protocol

Friends of Ruby believes that immunization against COVID-19 is an individual and societal responsibility and that we must do everything possible to protect our clients, families, employees, students, volunteers and contractors against the spread of COVID-19. As a condition of employment, proof of full vaccination or exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code must be submitted to Human Resources seven (7) calendar days prior to start date.

Hiring Policy / Statement on Employment Equity and Diversity

Friends of Ruby strives for inclusion and diversity by attracting extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Candidates with lived experience of homelessness and/or who self-identify as being from the 2SLGBTQIA+ or marginalized community, including Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and persons, are encouraged to apply and will be prioritized. We ask that these candidates indicate their relevant identities in their cover letters.

Your Application

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter. The job posting will be open until filled.
We thank all candidates for their interest. We regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation (including alternate format materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodation), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Friends of Ruby

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