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DKS Internship
LGBTQ M.S.W. Counselling Internship
David Kelley LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Services
Up to Twelve-month Internship
The David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Counselling Services at Family Service Toronto serves a largely adult LGBTQ population providing individual, couple, family counselling and group work on a broad range of issues including coming out, sexuality and identity, isolation, discrimination, relationship concerns, parenting, self-esteem, trauma, violence, loss, health and well-being. Service components include community based activities and training.
Family Service Toronto (FST) offers a unique opportunity for an LGBTQ Counselling Internship, for up to 12 months, in our David Kelley LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Counselling Service (DKS). The goal for the Internship in LGBTQ Counselling Project is to offer a dynamic environment for LGBTQ-identified MSW clinicians to acquire/enhance the practical skills and experience required to serve LGBTQ clients effectively while learning best practices and effective methodologies. The Internship may be of particular interest to new grads or staff on educational leave / secondment from their organization. This Internship supports career development for the successful candidate. The MSW intern will receive a living allowance of $55,000 for a 12-month placement. Internship placements for less than 12 months may be negotiated. We are committed to developing a service team that reflects the clients we serve. In applying, please clearly identify how you meet the specific qualifications outlined.
We invite progressive counselling / mental health agencies or programs that wish to add or expand effective and inclusive service to LGBTQ clients to consider providing an existing staff member this opportunity on an educational leave / secondment basis. The Internship in LGBTQ Counselling has been generously funded by The Counselling Foundation of Canada and The Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC) with the intent to support development of LGBTQ-identified services in other areas across Canada. FST has fifteen years of experience supporting and integrating LGBTQ programing into our equity and inclusion practices for service and community involvement. We would be pleased to share our expertise with other agencies interested in participating in this project.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide assessment, referral, and short-term counselling services to clients identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ). The work may be with individuals, couples, and families, and may include group work
- Demonstrated commitment to conscientious and timely completion of case recording and administrative responsibilities
- Receive supervision; participate in team learning and consultation with DKS staff and external consultant
- Exposed to and involved in community capacity building activities such as supporting the work of DKS students and volunteers, engaging with DKS Community Advisory Committee and other community networks; collaborating on community projects as available and relevant to learning goals. May be involved in delivery of training to clients or other professionals
- Be introduced to relevant LGBTQ research, advocacy and public policy
- Become familiar with broad-based agency policies, practices and issues affecting equity and inclusion for diverse client populations and learn strategies to support change in other settings regarding the needs of LGBTQ communities
QUALIFICATIONS:
- MSW in good standing. Foreign credentials and relevant experience equivalency will be considered.
- 1-2 years of clinical experience; field placement(s) at a Masters level is a minimum requirement for new grads
- Knowledge of and some experience using diverse counselling modalities including brief therapy approaches
- Demonstrated involvement in and established credibility in the LGBTQ communities, such as demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for public leadership. Comfortable being identified with these communities.
- Strong commitment to learning and to working in the LGBTQ community
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the culture and history of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and queer identified individuals, the issues affecting them and their communities
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of social justice, cultural competency and equity and inclusion
- Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and in a team environment
- Some knowledge of HIV/AIDS
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience working with adults and couples an asset
- Knowledge of a second language and culture is an asset
- Flexibility in hours of work, including evenings and week-ends may be required
Stipend: $55,000 for one-year internship; we are unable to provide health benefits
DEADLINE TO APPLY: No later than 5 p.m. October 15, 2011
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS OUTSIDE OF ONTARIO. There is no provision for moving / re-location costs. We will have another Internship opportunity in the following year.
Interested applicants are invited to submit a letter of application and resume, quoting File DKS #39-11 to:
Human Resource Services
Family Service Toronto
355 Church Street
Toronto, Ontario M5B 1Z8
or e-mail: hrdep@familyservicetoronto.org
If you have questions not covered in the above material you can contact Laurie Chesley, MSW, RSW, Manager, David Kelley Services, lauriech@familyservicetoronto.org
For more information on the history of the project and specifically our first Internship partnership with Family Services à la famille Ottawa, see
http://www.familyservicetoronto.org/programs/dks/internship.html
FST is committed to a policy of equity and inclusion. We thank all applicants and will contact the individuals selected for an interview. No phone calls please.
The Internship in LGBTQ Counselling project was initiated in the fall of 2008 with an initial search for an partner agency interested in enhancing their service to the LGBTQ community. We wish to thank Family Services à la famille Ottawa for their dedication and participation in partnering with FST/DKS on this project. An Intern was jointly selected for a 12 month placement at David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Services and subsequently hired as a staff member with the partner agency for a period of two years to provide dedicated service to the LGBTQ community. The following video describes the project. Criteria for this project has since changed, however we welcome interested organizations to contact us if we can be of assistance to identify key factors in adding or expanding effective and inclusive service to LGBTQ clients, or if you have current staff in your organization who may qualify for the Internship.
The LGBT Counselling and Community Internship is possible thanks to the very generous support of The Counselling Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC). Each organization provided significant three-year grants in support of this groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Canada. Family Service Toronto (FST) and Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSFO) wish to thank The Counselling Foundation of Canada and CERIC for their leadership and transformational gifts.
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS WIDELY.
