Individual and Family Therapist MLSE LaunchPad

About this position

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.  

Lumenus 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.

Lumenus is looking for a dynamic individual and family therapist to join our Counselling Team, working out of our MLSE LaunchPad satellite program located at Jarvis & Dundas. LaunchPad offers a wide range of services for children and youth aged 6-29 and their families. LaunchPad hosts expert partners who deliver outstanding programming within a “sport for development” approach, supporting the 4 Pillars: Healthy Body; Healthy Mind; Ready for School; Ready for Work. The Lumenus therapists provide drop-in counselling, brief counselling, ongoing therapy, parenting skills/workshops, group therapy and various workshops related to mental health. This position addresses a range of mental health issues, including emotional, behavioral and/or psychiatric symptoms that may be impacting one’s functioning at home, school, socially or in the community, as well as situational challenges including family conflict, bullying, trauma (including racialized trauma), substance use, struggles with psychiatric diagnoses, etc.  Intervention strategies are determined following a thorough intake and assessment. 

The LaunchPad Program supports children, youth and families who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), and is committed to amplifying Black voices and delivering quality services to Black youth. Thus candidates with with/lived experience of oppression, racism, racialize trauma, homophobia, transphobia and/or ableism and/or personal connection to queer or trans communities of color, including newcomer and disability communities will be an asset for applicants.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide therapeutic counselling using a range of Evidence-Based and/or Evidence-informed Practices (including Narrative Therapy, CBT, EFT/EFFT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, etc. and provision of psycho- Education as needed;
• Attending meetings in local schools, the community or virtually as might be required, as well as at the LaunchPad site;
• Provide single-session drop-in counselling using a Brief-Solution Focused and/or Narrative Therapy approach for youth and their families at the MLSE LaunchPad space;
• Provide a stepped care approach, including brief and ongoing counselling as determined by need and youth/family interest;
• Advocate for youth and families (when necessary), ensuring access to necessary programs and services within the community;
• Engage parents whenever possible and other family members and/or community supports, when appropriate;
• Become an active member of the MLSE LaunchPad community by liaising with LaunchPad staff and partners;
• Provides service coordination for clients with multiple needs, i.e. refer clients to other Lumenus programs when appropriate and liaise with workers from those programs to best support clients to meet their needs; refer to external service providers as needed;
• Complete all clinical reports, data entry and other documentation activities according to agency requirements and Accreditation standards;
• Builds and maintains effective interactions with colleagues at Lumenus Community Services, focused on individual, team and agency success;
• Organizes own work to meet scheduled deadlines and program demand;
• Aligns own work and behaviour with agency mission, vision and values;
• Complies with agency policies and procedures, paying particular attention to ensuring that client and staff confidentiality is strictly enforced;
• Adheres to the organizational health and safety policies and practices along with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. This includes but is not limited to ensuring safe workplace practices, protecting the health and safety of themselves and others and maintaining cleanliness in the workplace;
• Other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters of Social Work or Masters of Counselling Psychology;
• Membership in good standing within the appropriate related professional regulatory body; 
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Previous experience with evidenced informed treatment modalities including but not limited to, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EFT/EFFT, Trauma-informed therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy; 
• Experience of utilizing group facilitation skills, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices;
• Experience working with BIPOC youth struggling with depression, anxiety, strained social relationships, eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, trauma, psychiatric diagnoses, difficult family dynamics, learning disabilities etc.; 
• Sound knowledge of anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices and ability to implement them in work with children, youth and families;  
• Training in suicide risk assessment and intervention skills;
• Sound knowledge of Harm Reduction philosophy and practices; 
• Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Experience working with youth who have intersecting identities and identify on the gender diversity and/or sexual diversity spectrum or as a person of colour;
• Computer and social media literacy.  

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES:

• Sound knowledge of evidenced informed treatment modalities including but not limited to, Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Trauma-informed therapy, Attachment-based therapy, EFT/EFFT, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy;.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development;
• Knowledge of community and agency programs including transitional age youth and adult services; 
• Proven assessment and advocacy skills;
• Demonstrated sound judgement related to the development of collaborative approaches working with youth and their families; including high risk circumstances and safety planning and suicide risk assessment/intervention skills; 
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships with other staff and community partners;
• Ability to connect and build rapport with children and youth, including during sports activities, group games, etc., ‘on the floor’ of the LaunchPad facility;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment, exercising professional judgement in conflictual and stressful situations; 
• Sound writing skills with a strong record in completing documentation properly and in a timely manner;
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills;
• Proficiency with computer skills, including Microsoft Office, client data-base (CYSIS) and social media literacy;
• Participation in quality assurance, evaluation and research activities, as required;
• Ability to identify clinical learning needs and seek consultation and support through supervision.

ETHNO-CULTURAL MANDATE:  

Priority will be given to candidates that reflect the ethno-cultural diversity of the MLSE LauchPad community and the surrounding areas (Regent Park, Moss Park, and Esplanade/Corktown).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Check program;
• Attendance at other Lumenus locations for meetings or trainings as required;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the LaunchPad program, including weekends.

TO APPLY: Interested applicants are invited to visit our website at https://lumenus.ca/careers/ and submit their cover letter and resume through our Career Centre on or before December 17, 2021

We ask applicants to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting the Human Resources Department. Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate.