Frontline Counsellor

Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses; Stratford; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package including

Paid lunch and breaks

Vacation, health and dental, pension

Job summary

Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services seeks a Frontline Counsellor to provide 24/7 confidential, non-judgmental support to women and children in shelter and during crisis situations.

You will respond to crisis line calls and walk-ins, conduct risk assessments, and develop safety plans in a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive framework.

Qualifications

• College diploma in Social Service Worker or equivalent.
• Bachelor of Social Work is an asset.
• Minimum six months in violence-against-women services or related fields.
• Trauma-informed perspective and strong English communication.

Responsibilities

• Deliver 24/7 confidential, non-judgmental services to women and children.
• Answer crisis line, respond to walk-ins, and safety planning.
• Maintain professional documentation and case notes.
• Work in collaboration with shelter staff in a feminist framework.

Skills

De-escalation

Crisis response

Risk assessment

Safety planning

Motivational Interviewing

Case management

Mediation

Advocacy

Trauma-informed care

Active listening

Housing/homelessness knowledge

Additional language skills

Education

College diploma in Social Service Worker

Bachelor of Social Work or BA in Social Work (asset)

Tools

Microsoft 365

WISH

Adobe

Job description

Employer: Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services

Job Type: Permanent (Full Time)

Closes: August 26, 2026

Are you committed to ending the cycle of abuse and violence by raising awareness through prevention, education, and advocacy? Are you looking for the opportunity to support women with or without children to live free of abuse by providing shelter and confidential, non-judgemental services? If this sounds like you then please consider joining the team at Optimism Place!

Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services is an organization that provides emergency shelter, counselling, advocacy, and support for women and their children fleeing domestic violence in Perth County.

The Opportunity: FRONTLINE COUNSELLOR

Information / benefits:

• Full Time (70 hours per pay period) continuing position with anticipated start date of September 15, 2026
• Salary range, $25.50-$28.56 per hour
• Paid lunch and breaks
• Competitive Benefits package including vacation, health and dental, pension
• Requirements to:
• Able and willing to work all shifts - day, afternoon, and night; shifts are 10 hours, scheduled 3 shifts one week and 4 shifts the other week
• Work alone in a safe environment with the possibility of encountering high-risk situations
• Provide a valid and recent vulnerable sector check
• Provide valid CPR/First Aid Certification
• Have a positive impact on the lives of women and their children
• Work with like-minded individuals in an anti-oppressive, feminist framework

Application information:

Optimism Place is committed to equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and Indigenous persons, individuals of diverse gender and sexual orientation and all groups protected by the Human Rights Code. In alignment with its commitment to equity, Optimism Place values diversity and provides a positive and supportive environment. Optimism Place offers reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities to participate in the recruitment process. If you are contacted regarding this opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. While we appreciate all interest in our positions, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Opportunity Details:

The Frontline Counsellor is responsible for the delivery of 24/7 confidential, non-judgmental services and supports to women experiencing violence, including answering the crisis line, responding to walk-in clients, and engaging with women and children residing in the secure shelter. Individuals connecting with counsellors could include survivors of gender-based violence, sexual assault, workplace harassment, homelessness, addiction, and mental health. Always acts as an ambassador and role model for the agency.

To be considered for this opportunity you will have the following:

A college diploma from a registered institution in a Social Service Worker or comparable program. A Bachelor of Social Work or Bachelor of Arts in Social Work would be an asset. A minimum of six (6) months of related experience in the field of violence against women services, sexual assault services, or residential services. Volunteer or placement student experience is welcomed. Understands and operates from a trauma-informed perspective. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required.

Demonstrated knowledge or skills in the following areas:

• De-escalation and crisis response
• Individualized engagement and assessment of clients
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Motivational Interviewing
• Goal setting and case management
• Problem-solving
• Mediation
• Advocacy
• Harm reduction and addictions
• Non-judgemental and active listening skills
• Trauma-informed approach
• Understanding of housing and homelessness tools and systems is an asset
• A language in addition to English is an asset

Other qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to the women’s anti-violence movement.
• Continued commitment to ongoing education and professional development, keeping up with current trends and research in the Violence Against Women field and its intersection with homelessness, harm reduction, and mental health.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including the ability to generate professional documentation (note-taking, preparing letters, and reports).
• Understanding and welcoming of diversity.
• Computer literacy in various applications (Microsoft 365, WISH, Adobe).
• Ability to operate with independence and as part of a team.

To obtain a complete description of the duties and responsibilities of the position, please email Jasmine Clark at [e-mail] to receive the job description.