Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator

Date Posted: 04/30/2024

Req ID: 37158

Faculty/Division: Vice-Provost, Students

Department: Health and Wellness

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number: 00046836

Description:

About us:

Student Life connects life to learning. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in university life actively and find connection and community while discovering new ways of thinking and being in the world. We provide resources, support and engagement opportunities that are inclusive and accessible, ensuring every student can build experiences that set them up for a lifetime of success.

Consisting of an interdisciplinary team of health professionals and support staff, Health & Wellness at the University of Toronto aims to support graduate and undergraduate students in reaching their academic goals, engage students in their development and learning, and support their health and well-being by providing health education, clinical and consultation services. Health and Wellness (HW) provides counselling to students with a wide range of concerns ranging from relationship problems to debilitating depression and anxiety, suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress, and eating disorders.

The University of Toronto is acting on the recommendations of its Institutional Anti-Black Racism Task Force that address anti-Black racism and promote Black inclusion and excellence within the tri-campus community. It is a priority for the University to have diversity among its staff that support our diverse undergraduate and graduate student population. This search seeks to rectify the under-representation of Black student-supporting staff within this department of the University. From among the best qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Black. Recognizing the complexities of identity, this preference will extend to Black persons from Africa or of African descent.

Your opportunity:

The Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator is a Registered Social Worker and is an integral member of the embedded mental health care team in HW. With a focus on the University’s black student community, a member of the mental health care team, and under the direction of the Director, Professional Practice & Quality Assurance, provides counselling services for Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students in accordance with and within an anti-oppressive and anti-racist framework. The incumbent provides life coaching, personal counselling and solution/ goal focused psychotherapy to students in accordance with the University of Toronto Health and Wellness, vision, mission, and strategic plan, and is expected to demonstrate quality and effectiveness in work habits. In addition to personal counselling the incumbent will act as a consultant to faculty, staff, and students on counseling and related matters, conducts workshops and relevant training. Inherent in this role are the knowledge, skills and attitudes specific to critical thinking and decision making, ability to analyze and assess presenting mental health concerns and collaborate with the medical team in the management of these mental health concerns, and flexibility and decision making in fluid situations with unpredictable outcomes. The Wellness Counsellor and Coordinator will conduct screening/intake assessments; facilitate discharge planning; develop and facilitate community referrals and refer to the university or outside community; provide brief counselling to individuals; and run psycho-educational workshops.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing the mental health of clients
• Providing clinical counselling for students and making referrals to appropriate resources
• Determining if there is a life-threatening situation, risk of self-harm or harm to others and independently applying appropriate interventions
• Updating and maintaining patient records
• Leading seminars and/or workshops
• Following rules and procedural processes related to Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

Essential Qualifications:

• MSW and is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Minimum five (5) years related experience. Related experience should be in a Community Mental Healthsetting, and/or Outpatient Mental Health Unit where the incumbent has performed client intakes/assessments, crisis counselling, brief or short-term counselling to individuals, and psycho-educational workshops.
• Experience working with Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students living with mental health issues, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, social relationships, eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, difficult family dynamics, etc.
• Experience with navigating and/or addressing oppression, racism, homophobia, transphobia and/or ableism and/or connection to Black, Indigenous, and Racialized communities, including newcomer and disability communities.
• Extensive experience with mental health and illness, behavioral issues, anger management, and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge and awareness of, the life experiences and needs of Black, Indigenous, and Racialized students.
• Extensive knowledge of, and ability to collaborate and liaise with, equity-seeking student and campus organizations.
• Keyboarding skills and working knowledge of relevant software is required (e.g. Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good judgement and sensitivity , flexibility and resourcefulness.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and senior academic administrators about issues facing students in crisis and make recommendations.
• Able to exercise patience, tact, judgment and discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to students, staff, and faculty in ways that build confidence and trust.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Life coaching, mindful based therapies and alternative evidenced based therapies.
• Skill in working with university-aged young adults, and individuals in crisis.
• Experience working with post-secondary students and knowledge of university and community mental health resources.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Approachable
• Communicator
• Diligent
• Intuitive
• Patient
• Perceptive

Closing Date: 05/09/2024, 11:59PM ET

Employee Group: USW 

Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing 

Schedule: Full-Time; Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., some evening required.

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

USW Pay Band 15 — $93,752 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $119,892. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 

Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Recruiter: Fiona Chan

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Read Full Description