Summary

We are looking for 1 Legal Counsellor/Advocate to join our team and provide supports based on clients’ needs including legal supports, accompaniments to court and advocacy, access, information and referral to services and resources, risk assessment and safety planning, counselling, and emotional support.

Description

External Job Posting

Legal Counsellor/Advocate

Full-Time, Permanent Position

Mississauga South Location

Embrave: Agency to End Violence (formerly known as Interim Place) is hiring! We embrace brave, inspire bravery, create systemic change to end gender-based violence in our community. We are a non-profit organization that provides shelter, counselling, and advocacy supports for women, two-spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary folks and their children impacted by gender-based violence. We amplify the voices of survivors, educate the community, and inspire systemic change to create a society free of violence. Embrave works within a feminist, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, disability justice, gender inclusion, sex workers, decolonizing and harm reduction framework.

To learn more about Embrave, visit: http://www.embrave.ca
 
We are looking for a Legal Counsellor/Advocate to join our team and provide supports based on clients’ needs including legal supports, accompaniments to court and advocacy, access, information and referral to services and resources, risk assessment and safety planning, counselling, and emotional support.

What to Expect in the Legal Counsellor/Advocate Role

  • Provide supports and services from a feminist, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, gender inclusion, decolonizing, and harm reduction framework.
  • Provide timely services and thorough case management to all clients from a trauma-informed lens.
  • Keep accurate, detailed, and up-to-date case notes using the internal database system, and maintain confidentiality.
  • Conduct intakes, risk assessment and safety planning.
  • Support with crisis intervention and conflict resolution.
  • Answer crisis calls.
  • Provide advocacy and supports to navigate the systems and provide accompaniment to court and appointments with lawyers, police, etc.
  • Respond to the needs of clients with information on their legal options regarding separation, divorce, custody, access orders for their children, peace bonds, restraining orders and child support orders.
  • Familiarize clients with the court proceedings as applicable and act as a source of information on issues, processes, systems, services, and make referrals to appropriate community or legal resources.
  • Provide accompaniments to support clients and act as a source of information on issues, processes, systems, services, resources, and make referrals to appropriate and supportive services.
  • Adhere to all Health and Safety Policies and Procedures as outlined by the organization to minimize risks.
  • Perform other duties as assigned for the effective operation of the agency including supports with intake and crisis lines.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Social Work or equivalency in education and experience.
  • Experience working with clients in areas such as poverty, violence, and homelessness.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the systemic barriers experienced by clients and their intersectionality of oppressions i.e., Social Housing Reform Act; Mental Health Act; Landlord Tenant Act; O.W. Act, ODSP Act, etc.
  • Understanding Gender Based Violence (GBV) as a complex social problem and the intersectionality of sexism, racism, classism, colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, sanism and ablism etc. on clients and their children’s lived experiences of violence.
  • Proven ability in case management and supportive counselling skills from a decolonizing approach.
  • Strong knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction Strategies.
  • Demonstrated experience in crisis support and ability to mediate conflict.
  • Professional communication skills; dedicated to team building and strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • Police Vulnerable Sector Check
  • Must meet clients at appointments and accompaniments and have a G driver license and a reliable car.

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week; three day shifts 9:30am to 5:00pm; and two evening shifts 12:00pm to 7:30pm, required.

Salary: Hourly Rate $25.45 

We will provide employment accommodation (i.e., an accessible location, technical aids, accommodation during the interview, rescheduling of interviews that fall on religious holidays, etc.) if we are advised of an applicant’s needs in advance of any part of the selection process.

Embrave: Agency to End Violence is committed to the development of an organization that reflects the communities it serves. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including:

  • First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples.
  • Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion, and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin.
  • Persons of marginalized sexual orientations.
  • Persons with visible and/or invisible disabilities.
  • Survivors of the psychiatric system/consumer survivors.
  • Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people.

Please send a letter of application and current resume to Embrave: Agency to End Violence utilizing CharityVillage platform. Please include in your cover letter the position that you are applying for.

We will provide employment accommodation if we are advised of an applicant’s needs in advance of any part of the selection process.

Embrave: Agency to End Violence is a unionized workplace with OPSEU. This position is within the bargaining unit and as such the terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with the Collective Agreement.         
    
Date of Posting:                               November 1, 2023                
Deadline:                                          January 2, 2024