Shelter Counsellor, Part-Time

WAGE RANGE: $28.22 – $31.30/hr (includes pay equity adjustments to March 2025)

HOURS: 4:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

CONTRACT: Contract ending August 11th, 2026

Crossroads and the Haliburton Emergency Rural Safe Space (HERS) provides community‑based emergency residential safe space (29 licensed beds) and crisis support services for women and their dependents who have experienced or are experiencing violence, in order that they may live free of violence. The role includes providing 24/7 crisis phone counselling, including assistance with safety planning, providing information on rights, options and available services, referrals, etc.,

and supporting the development of a personal safety plan for women and their dependents, to confirm their immediate safety and help them avoid further abuse. YWCA‑PH includes all women‑identified people in our use and understanding of “woman” and “women” regardless of the sex they were assigned at birth.

Shelter Counsellors, with the support and guidance of the Shelter Managers, are responsible for ensuring that the YWCA’s funder mandated outcomes are met. These outcomes are based upon the premise that Crossroads and HERS exist to keep women, with and without children safe from harm.

• Assist women who are fleeing violent/abusive relationships to increase safety for themselves and their dependents, prevent re‑victimization and take steps to rebuild their lives.
• Support women and their dependents to understand their rights, safety planning and violence prevention strategies.
• Assist women in supporting their dependents to heal from the effects of witnessing violence.
• Assist and advocate for women and their dependents regarding their health, safety and well‑being.
• Conduct an initial lethality screening to assess a caller’s level of danger.
• Create and co‑develop safety plans with women and their families during initial contact, while they are residents at Crossroads or HERS, and upon discharge.
• Provide immediate crisis intervention, information, or referrals to callers on the agency’s 24‑hour crisis lines in a non‑judgmental manner.

• Completed relevant post‑secondary education (Social Service Worker diploma, Dual Pathways Program – Social Service Worker and Mental Health and Addictions, and/or Bachelor of Social Work) and at least 2 years relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to mental illness, trauma, harm reduction, crisis de‑escalation and anti‑oppressive practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health, addictions, individual and group supports.
• Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to work with women and their families using brief solution‑focused techniques.
• Demonstrates knowledge, understanding, and ability to respond appropriately to women and their children as they deal with the short and long‑term effects of surviving trauma, including having lived in an abusive situation, having survived an abusive situation and dealing with the impact of leaving an abusive situation.
• Incorporates knowledge and understanding of the impact of marginalization on women.
• Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to incorporate anti‑oppression & antiracist understanding into daily practice.
• Knowledge of, and proven ability to use, Crisis Prevention & Intervention skills in order to diffuse and prevent crisis situations.
• Strong crisis intervention, de‑escalating, conflict management and resolution skills.
• Demonstrates ability to be self‑reflective and self‑aware in the role of Shelter Counsellor.
• Demonstrates awareness of the personal impact of VAW work and creates and uses a personal well‑being plan to deal with the impact of the work.
• Demonstrates ability to adhere to professional standards in all facets of shelter work; with clients,…