Posted: September 15, 2026
Closes: September 29, 2026
INTERNAL / EXTERNAL POSTING
SHELTER COUNSELLOR
RELIEF
CUPE Local 3521
OFFICE LOCATION: Crossroads Shelter
START DATE: ASAP
WAGE RANGE: $29.07 – $32.24/hr (includes pay equity adjustments to March 2026)
HOURS: On Call, Rotational Shifts
POSITION PURPOSE:
Crossroads and the Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (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. To provide 24/7 crisis phone counselling, including assistance with safety planning, providing information on rights, options and available services, referrals, etc., to assist women to manage an immediate crisis situation. To support the development of a personal safety plan for women and their dependents, who have experienced violence, in order 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.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
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.
Specific mandated outcomes include (including MCCSS VAW emergency residential guidelines):
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.
Each woman who calls may have the opportunity to find out their level of danger by way of an initial lethality screening being done by the Shelter Counsellor.
Each woman who calls has a safety plan for themselves and their family co-created by them and a Shelter Counsellor.
Once a resident at the shelter, each woman co-creates a safety plan with staff created appropriate to their changed circumstances while living at Crossroads or HERS.
Upon discharge from Crossroads or HERS, staff will work with each woman to co-create a safety plan appropriate to their new living arrangements.
Provide immediate crisis intervention, information, or referrals to callers on the agency’s 24-hour crisis lines in a non-judgmental manner.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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.
- Women may be marginalized by: living in a rural and/or isolated location; housing/homelessness; poverty; physical and mental health status; use of legal/illegal drugs &/or alcohol; racialization; immigration status; sexual orientation; gender identity; family status; physical & mental health status of their children; differing ability/disability; language; culture; religion; education; employment; source of income; socio-economic status; literacy and numeracy skills; and so forth.
- 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 in order to deal with the impact of the work.
- Demonstrates ability to adhere to professional standards in all facets of shelter work; with clients, with co-workers, and with the public.
- Demonstrates knowledge, commitment and ability to create a healthy workplace environment for residents and co-workers.
- Demonstrates the ability to incorporate training and professional development into day-to-day work.
- Basic understanding of the spectrum of sex work from consensual to coerced human trafficking.
- A solid understanding of decolonization practices and the impacts of colonization and decolonization practices.
- Food Handlers Certificate an asset.
- Life Skills Certificate an asset.
- A certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset
- Ability to work shiftwork days/nights/evenings and weekends required.
- Clear CPIC with vulnerable sector screening required
- The YWCA Vaccination Policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Valid exemptions pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Please submit resume and cover letter in one PDF file by September 29, 2026 by visiting our Career Centre:
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton actively encourages applicants from all women-identified individuals from all equity deserving groups. YWCA Peterborough Haliburton embraces diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
In accordance with Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance to Human Resources at [email protected].
