Addiction Counsellor (SC)

House of Friendship of Kitchener; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Southwestern Ontario is looking for a full-time Addiction Counsellor to support individuals experiencing housing instability. This role involves substance use assessments, creating treatment plans, and delivering counselling services. Ideal candidates will possess a Degree in Counselling or Social Work, professional registration, and at least one year of relevant experience. The position also offers a collaborative work environment and requires participation in ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Employee & Family Assistance Program

Vacation pay and personal days

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year experience in an addiction or counselling setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of working with individuals experiencing concurrent disorders.
• Knowledge of community resources and provincial addiction treatment services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct substance use assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Provide individual and group counselling in-person and virtually.
• Collaborate with external and internal partners for case management.

Skills

Sensitivity to issues relating to marginalized populations

Knowledge of substance use and associated health risks

Strong communication and listening skills

Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Group facilitation and management skills

Education

University Degree in Counselling, Social Work or Related Field

Professional registration with Ontario College of Social Workers or Registered Psychotherapists

Job description

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!

This role is part of the Concurrent Supportive Housing (CSH) team, located at ShelterCare, in the Health Initiatives program.

ShelterCare Model

The ShelterCare Model is designed to integrate health and housing resources to address the complex and overlapping needs of men experiencing housing instability in our region. This program supports individuals in improving their health, wellness, and life skills with the goal of securing appropriate permanent housing and minimizing the duration of their homelessness. The Health Initiative program specifically focuses on all health-related programming including on‑site primary care provided in partnership with community health clinics and specialized providers, as well as clinical counselling and mental health interventions delivered by registered mental health professionals. The program also offers harm reduction supports tailored to meet individuals where they are in their recovery journey and strengths‑based case management is provided through a multidisciplinary team, with a focus on client‑defined goals and coordinated care. The Addiction Counsellor will provide both group and individual addiction counselling as well as case management to program participants.

Contract: 1 year, mid‑December 2025 to mid‑December 2026. Full‑time, 37.5 paid hours per week. Monday to Friday 8:30‑4:30, one evening shift per week. Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required.

Key Responsibilities

• Substance use assessments and program screening, intake, completion, discharge and referral
• Develop treatment plan collaboratively with participant, monitor and evaluate participant progress
• Develop accommodation plans for participants as needed
• Develop and implement evidence‑based programming including creating and promoting specialized workshops that address the needs of the community
• Individual and group counselling delivered both in person and virtually using an eclectic therapeutic approach
• Case management including case consultation, treatment planning and working collaboratively with external and internal partners
• Assess complex situations and make appropriate decisions independently and as part of a team including crisis intervention, risk assessment and safety planning
• Establish strong, therapeutic rapport and maintain appropriate professional relationships
• Complete documentation and data entry in accordance with agency and legislative requirements
• Maintain confidentiality in compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)
• Participation and involvement in other programs, Addiction Services and broader agency activities
• Work as part of a team including attending the team meetings, trainings and regular supervision meetings
• Support onboarding and training of new team members
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills

• Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and all marginalized populations
• Commitment to stage matched, strengths based, person‑centred quality psychotherapy services
• Knowledge of and training in substance use including associated health risks
• Knowledge of community resources and provincial addiction treatment services
• Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry
• Demonstrated ability to calmly problem‑solve in a fast‑paced, sometimes stressful environment
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative
• Experience working within a non‑profit and/or social services environment
• Commitment to work with and support training of students, volunteers and new employees as required
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and training
• Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative
• Group facilitation and management skills

Education/Experience

• University Degree in Counselling, Social Work or a Related Field of Study
• Professional registration, in good standing, as either a Social Worker or Social Services Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or a Psychotherapist (including qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
• Minimum 1 year experience in an addiction and/or counselling setting
• Demonstrated understanding of working with individuals experiencing concurrent disorders
• Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of substances, problematic substance use and recovery oriented interventions, evidence informed practices and clinical treatment modalities required

Critical Skills

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected
• Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required
• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members
• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
• Experience with and commitment to using an anti‑racism, anti‑oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a positive work environment including the ability to navigate change in a positive and productive manner
• Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
• Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges
• Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping

Compensation

At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not‑for‑profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• Time off includes vacation pay and 2 personal days per year
• Employee & Family Assistance Program

Rate of Pay

Grade: 5

Min: $27.31

Mid: $31.34

Max: $35.37

Working Conditions

• 1 year contract, 37.5 hours per week
• Required to work intensively with program participants in emotionally charged situations
• Required to assess situations and make decisions under pressure with minimal supervision or working alone
• Some group facilitation at community locations
• Required to meet with participants in their homes and in the community for some programs
• Travel within Waterloo Region and Wellington County required for some programs
• Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti‑racist and anti‑oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here: https://house-of-friendship.hirehive.com/addiction-counsellor-sc-waterloo-on-sA7qfg

By end of day December 19, 2025.