RELIEF & PART TIME Emergency Shelter Counsellors

At Valora Place (formerly Violence Against Women Services Elgin County) our doors are always open – 24 hours a day. For safety when you need it. Community you can count on. Connection where you feel understood.

We serve women and their children who are experiencing harm in their relationships or struggling with how they're feeling. We support family, friends, and co-workers too. Care is immediate, respectful, and compassionate. Each year over 2,000 people find the help they seek.

24-Hour Services are deliveredthrough our Community Help Line, Drop-In Support, and Emergency Shelter to offer immediate support; right when it's needed most. No appointment is needed.

Community Based Services are delivered in person by appointment to support women who have experienced abuse; women who have experienced sexual assault; women who are looking for support with housing; women who are navigating family court; and children who have witnessed abuse.

We are hiring both Relief and Part Time Emergency Shelter Counsellors. Work is in person and on site at our 24-Hour location in St. Thomas.

Pay commences at $25 an hour with 6% vacation pay to start.

As a Relief or Part Time Emergency Shelter Counsellor, you will play a vital role in providing safety, support, and guidance. Your responsibilities will include:

· Building working relationships of connection and trust

· Facilitating dynamic risk assessment and safety planning with women seeking safety from harm and navigating the effects of abuse

• Providing emotional support and counselling via the 24-Hour Community Help Line, the 24-Hour Drop-In Support Program, and within the 24-Hour Emergency Shelter residence.
• Sharing information and resources with women who have experienced hurt as well as well as supporting people reaching out looking for information & ways to be supportive to someone being abused.
• Maintaining a trauma-informed environment that is confidential, secure, clean, organized, and always ready to welcome the next person who calls or walks through our door.

Given the nature of 24-hour service delivery, the ability to work flexible hours is required. Your work will include the necessity to work awake overnights shifts and weekends. A night shift premium is paid for overnight work. There will be scheduled shifts and call-in shifts as necessary to ensure continuity of 24-hour services. If you are called in for an unscheduled shift on a day you were not already scheduled to work and receive less than the applicable notice period, your pay rate will be time-and-a-half.

You'll bring empathy, compassion, and discernment along with the strong desire and ability to build and maintain working relationships in a 24/7 direct care environment. To do so, you'll have:

· An understanding of the societal issue of gender-based violence including the effects of coercion and control in the lives of women and children.

· Support the values, purpose, and vision of Valora Place

· Strong interpersonal skills necessary for in person care, phone-based support, and collaboration with team members

· Sound judgement and the ability to assess risk coupled with experience facilitation of safety planning, emotional support, and counselling.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills necessary to facilitate teamwork & accountable care within a 24 hour service delivery model.

· A nimble spirit with the flexibility and problem-solving capacity necessary to adapt to evolving priorities in a crisis care setting.

· The ability to self-regulate and manage own emotions to maintain openness, composure, and a steady presence in uncomfortable, challenging, complex, or emotionally charged situations

· Strong skills in the management of sensitive and confidential matters with attention to boundaries, discretion, and safety needs.

· An approach to your work that holds curiosity, reflection, and a commitment and openness to ongoing learning and growth.

· A commitment to fostering a hope-centered workplace rooted in direct, open, and solution-focused communication and collaboration.

· A post-secondary education and related work experience, ideally in social services or a similar field.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.

You will also need to be able to lift up to 30lbs, provide a current and clear Criminal Reference Check and Vulnerable Persons Screen, have current CPR/First Aid certification, and have daily access to reliable transportation.

To provide reliable and effective 24/7 support for women and children and work in partnership with our community our team must be steadfast, connected, and supported.

We provide:

· Immediate access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program Valora Place offers. There is no cost to you.

· Support for your clinical skill development and future career path.

· Opportunities for connection and celebration.

This career opportunity will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please forward your resume to We thank all applicants and will only contact those selected for an interview.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Work Location: In person