Casual Support Worker

Brandon University; Brandon; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Westman is seeking a compassionate Support Worker for its shelter program in Manitoba. The role focuses on counselling, advocacy, and assisting residents with goal setting, appointments, and access to services.

The successful candidate will be skilled in crisis intervention, trauma-informed approaches, and group facilitation, and must pass a clear registry and safety checks to support individuals and families in crisis.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in humanities such as Applied Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or similar.
• Experience working from a Trauma Informed/Harm Reduction lens is essential.
• Related education in crisis intervention, domestic violence, addictions.
• Experience with clients in trauma and crisis situations.
• Experience with domestic/sexual abuse cases and crisis management.
• Current non-violent crisis intervention, Emergency First Aid/CPR, and Food Safe certificates.
• Satisfactory Adult and Child Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.

Responsibilities

• Engage with clients in crisis, determining immediate needs for support and intervention.
• Assist clients with meetings with services such as legal aid, CFS, and similar bodies.
• Advocate for clients in dealings with EIA, courts, housing, legal aid, medical, etc.
• Assist with crisis line responses: troubleshooting, support, and referrals.
• Assist with client intakes and assessments: file creation and data entry.
• Support general client and facility care including cooking, cleaning, and door security.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Counselling

Advocacy

Group facilitation

Crisis line support

Client intake

Education

Diploma or degree in humanities

Trauma-Informed / Harm Reduction training

Job description

YWCA Westman Posted: October 15, 2026
Expires: November 16, 2026

The ideal candidate for this role is a compassionate and nurturing individual with abilities in counselling and mentoring.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Support Worker is to aid and support individuals who are residing in the Shelter. Support can be offered in the form of counselling, assistance with goal setting, making appointments and other such needs.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Engaging with client in crisis situations, includes determining immediate needs for support and intervention.
• Assist clients with preparing for and attending meetings with various services such as legal aid, CFS, and alike.
• Act as an advocate for clients in dealings with EIA, courts, housing, legal aid, medical, etc.
• Assist with answering crisis phone line: troubleshooting, offering support and advocacy or alternative resources when required.
• Assist with client intakes and assessments: creating client files, entering information into internal system, processing paperwork.
• Assist with general client and facility care: cooking, cleaning, and answering doors.

Strengths and Knowledge

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A thorough understanding of the issue of violence against women and their children including the types of abuse, family impact, related historical, societal, and power issues.
• Clinical counselling and assessment skills.
• Knowledge on resources available in the community.
• The ability to facilitate groups include speaking to groups, troubleshooting, and determining needs.
• The ability to work alone and exercise good judgement in handling demands of a crisis.
• The ability to handle crisis situations calmly.
• The ability to approach situations without judgement and meet people where they are.
• The ability to make connections, build trust, and maintain positive relationships with clients.
• Maturity and be a dependable person.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Diploma or Degree in the humanities such as Applied Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or alike.
• Experience working from Trauma Informed/Harm Reduction lens is essential.
• Other related education in crisis intervention, domestic violence, addictions.
• Experience working with clients in trauma situations.
• Experience working with domestic/sexual abuse cases.
• Experience managing crisis situations and supporting people through crisis.Current non-violent crisis intervention certificate, Emergency First-Aid and CPR certificate, and Food Safe certificate.
• A satisfactory Adult and Child Abuse Registry and Criminal Record Check.

Working Conditions:

• Physical: This position will be based in an office in a women’s shelter facility. This position may hold physical demands such as cooking and cleaning, etc.
• Mental Health: This position will be exposed to crisis situations including witnessing individuals and children in distress.