Residential Counsellor, Cornerstone
Why Work for SOAR Community Services
About SOAR Community Services
SOAR Community Services (formerly St. Leonard's Community Services) has been an established part of the community for more than 55 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults, and families.
Our Values
These aren’t just “lip-service” to us – we work and live by them. If you do, too, we want to talk to you!
- Inclusive – we value everyone and their unique perspectives and journeys
- Compassionate – we care about our clients, our staff, partners, and the communities we serve
- Collaborative – we work together to support our clients and community
- Integrity – we hold ourselves accountable and are fair, trustworthy, and dedicated to our mission to empower people to achieve their vision of independence, health, and wellbeing
- Innovative – we are open to change and continuous improvement
- Genuine – we are honest, respectful, and authentic with our clients, each other, and our partners
- Optimistic – we believe that everyone can accomplish their goals
40 hours per week, rotating 2 weeks day shift, 2 weeks afternoon shifts. Some weekends are required. Hours may be subject to change based on needs of the program.
Duties
SOAR Community Services offers a continuum of social housing services to meet client needs ranging from homelessness to independent living. As part of the continuum, Cornerstone House offers two separate programs within its physical space including a shelter space for up to 13 individuals and a 12-bed transitional housing residence for both males and females between the ages of 18-29 years of age. Cornerstone House works with individuals who are precariously housed or at risk of homelessness and provides them with a safe place to stay, help and support with counselling and life skills coaching to support transition towards independent living.
As a Residential Counsellor for Cornerstone, you will:
- Develop, implement, and monitor Support Plans and help clients develop the skills and resources they need to enhance their development of interpersonal and instrumental life skills.
- Assess needs utilizing the Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT).
- Tour the facilities to ensure that the residence, clients and grounds are safe and secure and take corrective action.
- Apply the principles of the Housing First approach in day-to-day work and interactions.
- Work collaboratively with the Cornerstone team to ensure program delivery to all youth clients.
- Integrate a harm reduction approach.
Qualifications
- Have a college diploma in a Human/Social Services field
- Have a minimum of 2 years’ combined student placement and/or paid experience working with youth with substance use, mental health and/or homeless issues
- Be proficient in MS Office and be familiar with databases
- Have access to reliable transportation, as some travel may be required
- Be able to manage frequent exposure to direct and vicarious traumatic stress
- Please also note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a police vulnerable sector check as a condition of employment, however strong consideration is made to the type of offense
Eligibility
Contract: February 14, 2025, to February 13, 2026.
Benefits
- An Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
- Full Time staff start at 3 weeks’ vacation
- 60 hours of Personal Leave Time per year for Full Time staff (pro-rated the first year)
- Fun events for all staff
- Participation in RSP/TFSA plans for all staff, with Agency pension match for Full Time and eligible Part Time staff
- Group health, vision, dental and travel insurance plans where premiums are 100% paid by the Agency for Full Time staff
- An Agency committed to ensuring your physical and mental health/safety is paramount
How to Apply
Email: lexi.borton@soarcs.ca or Kirsten.crouch@soarcs.ca
Apply by: January 24, 2025
Reference: TFT Cornerstone Res Couns
Our Commitment to Job Seekers
St. Leonard’s Community Services Inc. is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wyandot, the Haudenosaunee, and some of the Ojibwa Nation. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, on this territory. We also acknowledge that the settler population has been able to benefit from this beautiful land. We are all treaty members and will strive to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and center their voices.
The Agency values the diverse and intersectional identities of its clients and staff. The Agency regards equity and diversity as an integral part of excellent community service and is committed to accessibility for all staff. The Agency seeks applicants who embrace our values and beliefs around respect for the dignity and diversity of our clients, staff, and community. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
The Agency encourages applications from all qualified individuals. If you are an applicant with disabilities and require accommodations, please let us know at the time of our contact so that we may arrange for their provision.
Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of the competition in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.