Women's Health Worker

 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:  7-ETF-2025

Department: Health Equity and Settlement Services

Reports to: Health Equity Clinical Lead

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work:  22.5 hours/week

Contract Start Date: TBD

Contract End Date: March 2, 2026

Posting Date: September 2, 2025

The Women's Health Worker will work in partnership with the downtown site for the McMaster Family Health Team (FHT) located at the David Bradley Health Sciences Centre in the core of Hamilton. This site hosts the Maternity Centre of Hamilton and McMaster Family Practice. The PROSPR program at the Maternity Centre provides prenatal and substance use care through a low barrier clinic model, offering flexible clinic appointments and comprehensive care by an interdisciplinary team.

The goal of this program is to focus on the needs of people with reproductive health issues experiencing significant health stressors and increase collaboration between YWCA Hamilton, McMaster Family Health Team, Maternity Centre of Hamilton and the PROSPR program along with other key community resources by adding an additional Mobile Worker to the program.

The Women's Health Worker will have a specialized focus on reproductive health, pregnancy and supporting people using substances and experiencing homelessness with a priority focus on McMaster Family Practice patients including Maternity Centre/PROSPR program patients and clients identified through the YWCA Hamilton Emergency Reproductive Care waitlist. Clients and patients who are pregnant will be prioritized for supports.

The purpose of this program is to provide low barrier systems navigation, support, and case management to address a range of reproductive and other health and social needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Works collaboratively with women and gender diverse individuals to address a range of reproductive and health care needs, with a priority focus on pregnancy support inclusive of abortion, post-abortion care, pregnancy loss and miscarriage supports and support during pregnancy and the post-partum period;

·       Provide support, information, and counseling about the reproductive options available to them (including access to abortion and post abortion care);

·       Provide low barrier systems navigation, 1:1 support and intensive case management to address a range of issues including (but not limited to): reproductive care, health care (including connection to primary care), housing, culturally relevant services, gender-based violence support, mental health support, substance use/harm reduction support and other forms of tangible and practical support;

·       Coordinates and organizes medical/community appointments;

·       Support with completing housing applications, OW/ODSP applications, replacing identification and referrals to any community agency as directed by the program participant;

·       Building and maintaining ongoing supportive relationships with program participants, checking in regularly and responding to participants needs as they emerge;

·       Keeps records on day-to-day happenings, enter client information/daily events into an electronic medical record (EMR) used by McMaster FHT as well as the data system used by YWCA Hamilton;

·       Familiarly with the child welfare system, the Child and Family Services Act and providing coordination and advocacy with Children's Aid Society/ Catholic Children's Aid Society as needed;

·       An understanding that you may be required to attend family court and/or that your case notes may be subpoenaed;

·       Participation in interdisciplinary meetings/rounds/consultations at both McMaster FHT and YWCA Hamilton;

·       Applies knowledge of trauma and the dynamics of gender-based violence to develop and implement effective support strategies including safety plans as needed;

·       Works safely, reports all workplace hazards and follows all YWCA Hamilton Health and Safety policies and procedures;

·       Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;

·       Understands emerging trends, leading practices, industry professional standards;

·       Works within general rules, procedures and standards, referring issues or problems to supervisor;

·       Communicates, advocates and collaborates with community agencies (e.g. courts, legal services, housing), advocates and peer support teams at YWCA Hamilton;

·       Ability to work with interpreter;

·       Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with sensitive and personal client, employee and contract information;

·       Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;

·       Performs other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

·       Works 20 hours weekly within a temporary contract position;

·       Ability to work across multiple sites and in the community as necessary. (Ex: Work on-site at YWCA Hamilton one day a week, work on-site at McMaster FHT 1.5 days a week – with some of the time at McMaster FHT spent in the community attending appointments with clients);

·       Work environment may be unpredictable, and crisis oriented at times; regularly works in emotional charged situations requiring resolution;

·       Required to work off site and meet program participants where they are at in the community (including shelters, encampments, other services or organizations, etc.);

·       Dependable access to a vehicle, willing to transport program participants in vehicle – G driver's license and ability to be insured up to $2 million is required;

·       Given shared role across McMaster FHT and YWCA Hamilton, you are responsible to notify both agencies in the event of absence from work;

Qualifications

·       Completion of 2 years college in social work or human services or equivalent education and/or experience;

· years' experience working in the areas of reproductive health, homelessness and/or violence against women settings or equivalent;

·       Working knowledge of the child welfare system, harm reduction frameworks, safety planning relating to gender-based violence and mental health and trauma-informed care perspectives;

·       Familiar working with Hamilton resources and system navigation;

·       A compassionate pro-choice orientation, an understanding of the unique needs of people actively using substances during pregnancy and a gender inclusive lens as it relates to reproductive experiences is required;

·       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 be able to lead and work from a feminist, anti-racist / anti-oppressive perspective for operations and strategic planning;

·       Must provide a current Vulnerable Sector Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;

·       Must have current Standard First Aid and CPR certificate or willingness to obtain at own cost;

·       Naloxone training, NCI/CPI, ASSIST certificates an asset;

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

·       Bilingual English/French or other languages is 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.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities