Community Development Worker

**Employment Type**:Full-Time, Contract
**Work Hours**:35 hours per week
**Salary**:$52,348 (L6), plus comprehensive benefits
**Location**:Toronto, Ontario
**Contract Start Date**: October 28, 2024
**Contract End Date**: October 30, 2025
**Internal Application Deadline**: Friday, October 18, 2024
**External Application Deadline**: Monday, October 21, 2024

**JOIN OUR TEAM**

The Community Development Worker - Children and Youth works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. They work in conjunction with women and children to establish a plan which will facilitate a safe and effective path to independence. The Community Development Worker
- Children and Youth is responsible for providing a full range of services which include crisis counseling and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops, activities and programs for children and youth.

**ABOUT YWCA TORONTO - WOMEN’S SHELTER***
YWCA Women’s Shelter provides safe and secure emergency shelter for women and their children who are fleeing violence. The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day and supports 9 families and one single woman. In addition to shelter, families are offered case management support and enriching group and community activities to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced and begin to establish lives that are free of violence.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Supports children, youth and families to build leadership by developing and participating in community activities
- Works in conjunction with the Shelter Support Worker - Parent and Child Support Worker to address the issue of woman abuse and its impact on children
- Interviews, conducts preliminary assessments and identifies children’s needs and goals
- Provides information and referrals as required; liaises with professionals and agencies in the community to facilitate the access to services as required by the children and youth
- Develops safety and departure plans for children
- Works with children and youth individually and/or in groups to develop improved social and living skills by assisting them to: set goals, follow through on plans, discuss alternatives and make choices and decisions
- Develops, implements and evaluates group and other activities for children and youth exposed to woman and child abuse.
- Contributes specialized knowledge and expertise to team members to develop meaningful and relevant services for women and their children
- Attends regular staff meetings, staff training sessions and case meetings as required
- Shares on-call duties
- Regular evening and weekend work required

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- 1-3 years’ experience in programming, community development work and group work with clients at risk including experience and training working with children of various age groups traumatized by violence Ability to engage children and youth in activities that promote social inclusion, skill building and community building
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of abuse/violence against women and children
- Demonstrated experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops and groups
- Counseling approach that is flexible, de-escalates tension, teaches conflict resolution and is focused on success
- Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment
- Ability to work with an anti-oppression and feminist framework
- Knowledge and understanding of trauma, mental health issues, advocacy, child development and parenting, employment and/or addictions issues would be an asset
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure
- Ability to handle crisis situations effectively both in person and by telephone
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Good written and excellent verbal communication skills
- Ability to maintain a positive approach and a professional manner at all times
- Knowledge of a second language 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

**Posting Date**: October 8, 2024

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 Toront