Full-time Counsellor - Willowbridge Community Services
Full time (32 hours per week, paid for 35 as per 4-day Work Week)
Duties
Willowbridge Community Services is a not-for-profit organization offering developmental services and counselling across Hamilton, Brantford, Niagara, and Haldimand Norfolk. We believe that everyone deserves relationships, community, and celebration.
At Willowbridge Community Services we believe that counselling can make a difference when people encounter situations that are hard to face alone. Willowbridge provides confidential counselling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families to explore the strengths and resources they can use to overcome challenges. Our counsellors focus on improving relationships, wellbeing, and healing from trauma. We teach skills for managing difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and reaching goals. We listen to clients’ unique experiences and offer a safe, non-judgmental space where they can move towards building a more positive future. Our counsellors must be comfortable and committed to supporting clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring that all individuals receive the compassionate care they deserve.
About the role:
- Provide individual, couple, family and group counselling using strength-based and family-centred practices for all Willowbridge clients.
- Measurement based care will be used in collaboration with clients to measure progress and track recovery rates.
- Provide counselling services to women and children affected by domestic violence, including safety planning, advocacy and, as appropriate, referrals to other community services and resources.
- Where appropriate, work in collaboration with other community agencies and other program teams for individual case management and referrals.
- Provide rapid access counselling services to participants of the Ontario Works program including seamless coordination of services, case conferencing and collaboration across services to ensure a continuum of care approach to all aspects of the individual’s life.
- Provide counselling to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
- Provide educational workshops and facilitate group work as required.
- Maintain and complete necessary paperwork, including case notes, reports and statistics, in accordance with agency timelines and documentation requirements.
- Actively participate in supervisions, team and all staff meetings, agency outreach activities and other projects as assigned.
- Assume responsibility for professional development through reading, participation in internal training and supervision, and attendance at professional conferences and workshops
- Ensure that conduct is in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the governing body of their profession, and that all applicable legislation is adhered to.
- Comply with the policies of Willowbridge including those pertaining to the confidentiality of client information.
- Represent the agency in a positive manner with clients, colleagues and the community at large.
- Attend supervision meetings with the Manager for the purpose of client case review and case management, review of work expectations and performance evaluation.
Qualifications
- Master of Social Work Degree (or equivalent) and Registration with the appropriate professional body.
- Experience providing individual, couple and/or family therapy, using strength-based, narrative counselling approaches.
- Working from an anti-oppressive, trauma and attachment informed lens.
- Experience and a passion for providing counseling to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
- Special training or experience in group education and program design is an asset.
- Ability to lead discussions, conceptualize and communicate effectively
- Experience in providing short-term, single session therapeutic counselling.
- Strong assessment and liaison skills, effective problem solving and conflict management skills
- Ability to manage multiple demands in a manner that facilitates collaboration.
- Proficient competency with Microsoft Office and Client Database Applications.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Eligibility
- Vulnerable Sector Screening Required
Willowbridge aims to provide a diversity-friendly work environment and particularly encourages people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual/gender identities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs to apply. Willowbridge is committed to supporting a culture of diversity and inclusiveness across the organization. Accommodation in the recruitment process will be provided upon request.
Benefits
Why Work for Willowbridge?
- Become part of an innovative 4-day workweek and work 32 work hours a week with no salary reductions.
- Generous vacation package starting at 18 paid days (4.5 weeks), all statutory holidays, and additional paid days for a week-long holiday office closure.
- Comprehensive health and dental plan including a $1000 health care spending account and a matching RRSP program.
- Accrue 1.4 cumulative sick-days per month that build into a sick-day accrual bank.
- Flexible working hours that meet your needs.
- Hybrid work model with both remote and in-person requirements.
- Funded professional development, training, and certification opportunities as available.
- A management team that advocates for the wellbeing of staff, clients, and the community.
- Opportunity to be a change-maker in a positive, collaborative workplace that values leadership, innovation, and creativity.
How to Apply
Please forward your cover letter & resume in one document to careers@willowbridge.ca by 4:30 p.m. on or before September 21, 2025. Note, applications that are not submitted to the email above will not be considered.
If you would like assistance with your job search or in applying to this position, please contact SOAR Community Services at 519-756-76650 or employerservices@soarcs.ca and let us know how we can help!