Aftercare Worker

Position: Aftercare Worker - (FT Contract until April 30, 2027)
Why make ONWA your career choice?
Make a difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples by supporting and advocating for positive change.

ONWA prides itself on providing all employees with a total rewards package that is generous and supports our workforce and their family members:

Competitive salaries

Paid time off at Christmas

Additional paid stat and civic holidays

35 hour work week

Paid cultural/personal wellness days

Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance

Ongoing professional development.

VISION
At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we celebrate and honour the safety and healing of Indigenous Women and Girls as they take up their leadership roles in the family, community, provincially, nationally and internationally for generations to come.

SCOPE
Reporting to the Branch Manager, the Aftercare Worker provides wholistic services that meet the needs of Indigenous women and their families through a range of supports focused on mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being through a cultural, trauma-informed, gender-based, and family-centred approach. The Aftercare Worker provides counselling, consultation, aftercare services, follow-up support, advocacy, crisis intervention, referrals, and case coordination for Community Members who have previously received mental health supports, completed substance dependency treatment programs, attended healing lodges, or are participating in harm reduction programs.

QUALIFICATIONS
SKILLS

A Bachelor’s degree is preferred; however, a minimum two-year Social Work Diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Minimum three (3) years of experience advocating for and supporting Indigenous women and/or Indigenous families.

Experience working with Indigenous populations experiencing mental health and substance use concerns.

Ability to provide evidence-based counselling support services.

Experience providing case coordination, aftercare services, referrals, advocacy, and follow-up support.

Strong crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and emergency response skills.

Experience completing assessments, case notes, reports, and other program documentation.

Experience facilitating presentations, wellness education, and community-based workshops.

Excellent organizational, administrative, time-management, and communication skills.

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with Community Members, healthcare providers, treatment centres, community agencies, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Traditional People.

Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, internet-based systems, databases, and office technology.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of Indigenous culture, traditions, teachings, ceremonies, and community-based healing approaches.

Knowledge of mental health, substance use, addictions recovery, and wellness support services.

Thorough knowledge and experience working from a gender-based lens and Indigenous women centred perspective.

Strong understanding of behavioural, emotional, psychological, social, and mental health challenges experienced by Indigenous women and their families, including children and youth.

In-depth understanding of psychological, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Awareness and understanding of historical, intergenerational, and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous women and families, including psychological, neurological, physiological, social, and spiritual impacts.

Understanding of trauma-informed care, cultural safety, wise practices, and strength-based service delivery.

Knowledge…