Community Liaison Worker

**Employment Type**:Full-Time, Contract
**Work Hours**:35 hours per week ( Sunday to Thursday 11am to 7pm)
(on-call responsibilities; may be required to work occasional shifts outside of the regularly scheduled hours)
**Salary**: $52,348 per hour (L6), plus comprehensive benefits
**Location**:348 Davenport Road Toronto, ON, M5R 1K6
**Contract Start Date**:March 3, 2025
**Contract End Date**:March 3, 2026
**Internal Application Deadline**:Monday, February 24, 2025
**External Application Deadline**:Monday, February 26, 2025

**JOIN OUR TEAM**

The Community Liaison Worker works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. They act
as a resource to staff and clients and is responsible for providing a full range of services which includes building and strengthening community relationships, supporting front line shelter staff and developing, facilitating and evaluating shelter groups and workshops

**ABOUT YWCA TORONTO - YWCA DAVENPORT**
YWCA Davenport provides up to 80 emergency shelter beds to young women and gender diverse people (16 - 24 years of age) and adult women and gender diverse people (25 and older) and is staffed 24 hours a day. This pet friendly shelter is funded by the City of Toronto and adheres to Toronto Shelter Standards.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Through community engagement, promotes inclusion, participation and creativity, and builds a safe community where well-being and shared values are evident by providing connection within the shelter and in the outside community;
- Collaborates with the Shelter Support staff to develop and coordinate programs and special events for shelter participants;
- Facilitates monthly resident shelter meetings and supports in the resolution of emerging needs, concerns that are identified in a co-operative living environment;
- Liaises with outside community members to investigate and resolve any complaints and concerns that may arise in consultation with the Manager;
- Builds and nurtures partnerships with outside agencies and services with the intention to gather and expand participant and staff access to resources and programming that reduce participant isolation and diversifies connections to available services in the community;
- Supports the shelter staff and residents by working onsite at YWCA Davenport on Mondays (weekly) and stepping in to support front line staff or work front line shifts/front desk shifts on an as needed/emergency basis;
- Any other Duties as required;
**QUALIFICATIONS**
- In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of a supervised undergraduate degree (e.g. BSW); **(Cases for Equivalency will be considered);**:

- Completion of workshops and courses pertaining to overdose awareness, mental illness, trauma, harm reduction, crisis de-escalation and anti-oppressive practice;
- 1 to 3 years’ experience in counselling and group work focused on clients at risk and/or homeless women;
- Completion of Toronto Hostel’s Training Certificate (T.H.T.C.) or equivalent;
- Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles and practice;
- Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and supports focused on mental health and group support;
- In-depth knowledge of the dynamics of violence against women and trauma within an anti-oppression framework;
- Demonstrated experience in the development, delivery and evaluation of workshops and groups;
- Experience delivering culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Knowledge and understanding of mental health, substance use/addictions, advocacy, refugee and immigration issues and homelessness;
- Life Skills Certificate an asset;
- A certificate in trauma counselling would be an asset
- Knowledge of a second language and/or culture would be an asset

**What we offer**:

- Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage
- Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit
- Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25%
- Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days
- Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

**Vaccination Policy**: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obta