Counselor I

Counselor Position at YWCA South Hampton Roads

YWCA South Hampton Roads (YWCA SHR) is the oldest and largest multicultural women's organization in the world. YWCA SHR is dedicated to the fullness of its mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Serving approximately 8,000 individuals each year, YWCA SHR is a source of strength, courage and empowerment for women and families facing crisis. We are a community catalyst for meaningful change and the advocate for shaping vital impact through quality services responding to the critical needs of survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. YWCA SHR works across racial, gender, religious and social lines with organizations-partners in all sectors to educate about disparities, advocate for change and provide resources and tools to dismantle oppressive systems.

YWCA SHR is in the midst of a rapid transformation from a well-established direct service provider for women and families facing crisis to an organization working at the intersection of eliminating racism, empowering women and standing up for social justice, helping families and strengthening our community.

About the Position

This position is responsible for providing crisis intervention counseling, individual and group therapy, advocacy and outreach services to YWCA South Hampton Roads clients and allied professionals. Reports to the COO.

Essential Duties

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide crisis intervention through individual counseling to mostly adult victims but some teenage clients as well.
• Facilitate support groups for victims of interpersonal violence working occasional evenings to accommodate client's needs.
• Provide long-term therapy to YWCA clients, maintaining appropriate client records.
• Develop and monitor service plans for program participants. Make appropriate referrals to other agencies and provide advocacy as needed.
• Respond to crisis situations involving program participants and provide accompaniment to police, hospitals, and courts.
• Serve as department staff back-up according to the weekly rotation schedule.
• Maintain client case records within electronic case management, scheduling software, and any data/grant management software as required by the agency and in accordance with ethical guidelines, policy, and procedures.
• Act as a resource person for staff. Prepare and deliver in-service programs and training for agency volunteers.
• Pursue on-going training and education regarding interpersonal violence; trauma-informed counseling techniques, community resources, and other related topics.
• Attend staff meetings and client case reviews and scheduled in-service training as assigned.
• Facilitate training and outreach education to the YWCA staff as needed as well as the community on topics related to the mission of the YWCA.
• Serve as outreach therapist/counselor to satellite offices in the designated city as appointed by the COO.
• Collect client fees and distribute to the appropriate YWCA staff member, as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires a Master's degree in counseling, social work or related human services field, at a minimum license eligible.
• At least one year of direct service clinical experience working with adults, working a clinical setting with clients affected by trauma is preferred.
• Must provide a copy of any certifications, credentials, Liability Insurance Coverage (if applicable) and all Graduate Level transcripts.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must complete the training programs of YWCA SHR
• Must complete a successful background check

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of interpersonal violence and a strong commitment to ending violence against women, men, and children.
• The ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and respond to participants in a professional and reassuring manner.
• Demonstrate exemplary, effective crisis intervention and counseling skills and the ability to facilitate groups.
• Demonstrate the ability to act as an advocate on behalf of clients with a working knowledge of legal, medical and social service systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to function as a part of a team with co-workers.
• Demonstrate ability to work well with people of various ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• It requires a willingness to work and travel alone.
• Travel is required and access to reliable transportation is essential.

Core Values

The Counselor is expected to model YWCA SHR Core Values:

• Compassion
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Ownership
• Responsibility
• Empowerment

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a typical office environment with a high standard of confidentiality, however the position is required to travel to allied professional and community offices with bags of material. Therefore, position must be able to carry up to 40 pounds for long distances.

• Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to: Frequently walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and talks or hears.
• Often required to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat or crawl. Ability to lift and carry up to 20-25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately loud. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office-related equipment, such as but not limited to, a personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.

Compensation

This is a non-exempt, part-time, hourly position, with the pay range of $22-$24 per hour. Weekly hours vary, not to exceed 15 to 25 hours per week.

Start Timeframe

Position will be open until filled. Interested applicants are requested to submit a cover letter and resume to job posting at

Equal Employment Opportunity Disclosure

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

YWCA SHR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires YWCA SHR to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.