Gender Specific Addictions Counselor

Who We Are

Founded in 1889, YWCA Hamilton is known as one of Hamilton's original social innovators and works from a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive framework. We are dedicated to strengthening women's and girl's voices, broadening their choices, building dynamic leadership and providing essential services that promote safe, inclusive and equitable communities.

YWork for us?

At YWCA Hamilton, we are intentional about fostering a workplace culture that values positive physical and emotional well-being through our values of Intersectional Feminism, People Centred, Belonging, Responsibility, and Partnerships. We invest in our employees so that we can bring our values into the communities in which we live. We offer our employees:

• On-the-job training and professional development opportunities
• Childcare discounts
• Opportunities to get involved in our community
• A competitive total rewards package

If you're passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of women, children, and families every day, we would love for you to join our team

Position Description

Job Code: 9-ETF-2025

Department: Housing and Gender Based Violence Support Services

Reports to: Health Equity Clinical Lead

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work: 15-29-hours per week

Schedule: days, evenings, nights and weekends

Contract Start Date: TBD

Contract End Date: March

Posting Date: December 2 2025

The philosophy of this program is to work collaboratively in client-directed ways to reduce substance use related harms and enhance well-being for women and gender-diverse people who use substances.

The Addictions Counselor, focused on gender and substance use will design and deliver gender responsive therapeutic services to women accessing the Housing Programs through YWCA Hamilton. This will include individual counselling and psychoeducation/therapeutic group programming that address the intersection of substance use and gender-based violence/trauma, mental health, pregnancy and parenting, health equity and issues of housing and homelessness. The Addictions Counsellor will also provide gender-specific harm reduction supports that aim to improve the quality of life and health of clients.

The ideal candidate will understand the gendered impacts and consequences of substance use and view a continuum of care for women and gender diverse people who use drugs, as inclusive of harm reduction and recovery orientated approaches.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work collaboratively to build internal processes for client intake, assessment and data collection;
• Provide one-to-one therapeutic counselling to women and gender-diverse people who use drugs from a trauma-informed perspective;
• Develop and implement flexible low-barrier gender-specific therapeutic group interventions tailored to the unique needs of women and gender diverse people who use drugs;
• Work collaboratively with staff and leadership from across the YWCA Hamilton to identify substance use related risks, develop wrap-around care plans and enhance safety for women and gender diverse people who use drugs;
• Support women and gender-diverse people in making and mobilizing plans towards recovery, including accessing withdrawal management services, residential treatment services, culturally relevant recovery supports;
• Develop and deliver therapeutic services intentionally designed for pregnant and parenting women and gender diverse people who are impacted by substance use;
• Provide referrals and develop into programs, supports and services that enhance wellness and recovery;
• Keeps records on day-to-day happenings, enter client information/daily events into an electronic data information system for reports and statistics;
• Apply knowledge of trauma and the dynamics of gender-based violence to develop and implement effective support strategies including safety plans;
• Works within general rules, procedures and standards, referring issues or problems to supervisor;
• Ability to work with interpreters;
• Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with sensitive and personal client, employee and contract information;
• Represents the YWCA Hamilton and always maintains outstanding public relations skills and a professional image in the community;
• Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;
• Works safely, reports all workplace hazards and follows all YWCA Hamilton Health and Safety policies and procedures;
• Participate and provide mandatory organizational and departmental trainings and meetings.
• Stays current on emerging trends, leading practices and legislation;
• Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in clinical psychology, counselling, or social work, or related field. Registration with appropriate college or regulating body (recognized under the Health Professions Act);
• 1 to 3 years' experience working in the areas of substance use, and/or homelessness and/or violence against women settings;
• Working knowledge of harm reduction frameworks, the child welfare system, safety planning relating to gender-based violence and mental health and trauma-informed care perspectives;
• Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of drug use, homelessness, violence and mental health for the population accessing YWCA services;
• Familiar working with Hamilton resources and system navigation;
• Ability to intervene in overdose and drug poisoning crisis situations and willing to learn how to respond in a drug induced crisis situation - through administering oxygen, Naloxone, CPR and working with Emergency Responders;
• Ability to work from a non-judgmental perspective, respecting the right to self-determination, autonomy and personal agency of all program participants is required;
• The ability to work collaboratively with other sector partners including liaise with program stakeholders for program development and collaborate to provide onsite support, consultation and coordinated case management;
• Must have current Standard First Aid and CPR certificate or willingness to obtain at own cost;
• Naloxone training, NCI/CPI, ASSIST certificates an asset;
• Must be able to lead and work from a feminist, trauma-informed and anti-racist / anti-oppressive perspective for operations and strategic planning;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Must provide a current Vulnerable Sector Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and also work effectively in a team;
• Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset.

As part of YWCA Hamilton's commitment to Access and Equity, we strive to represent the diverse communities that we serve. Individuals who are women, First Nations, Métis, immigrant, refugee, LGBTQ2S+; individuals with disabilities; and individuals from racialized communities or other marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. Please inform us of any accommodation requests.

Please Note: Personal information collected during the recruitment process will only be used for employment opportunities only in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act. Only applications from individuals eligible to work in Canada will be considered.

Thank you for your interest in YWCA Hamilton. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.