Harm Reduction Worker (Relief)

YWCA Hamilton; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated harm reduction worker to support women, trans, and non-binary individuals in a safe space. This role focuses on providing essential harm reduction services, health education, and crisis intervention. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with a diverse team to foster inclusivity and promote well-being in the community. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and supporting marginalized populations, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a mission-driven organization that values equity and community engagement.

Benefits

On-the-job training

Professional development opportunities

Staff fitness discounts

Childcare discounts

Community involvement opportunities

Competitive total rewards package

Qualifications

• Understanding of drug use, homelessness, and mental health complexities.
• Ability to support marginalized groups with a trauma-informed approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide harm reduction health education and referrals to treatment.
• Respond to overdoses and emergencies in a supportive environment.
• Maintain confidentiality and document all relevant information.

Skills

Knowledge of drug use complexities

Trauma-informed approach

Crisis intervention

Documentation skills

Advocacy skills

Bilingual (English/French)

Education

Relevant education or training

First Aid and CPR certification

Job description

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.

Position Description

Job Code: R1-MSP-2025

Position Type: Relief

Department: Housing and Gender Based Violence Support Services

Reports to: Supervisor, Carole Anne’s Place

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work: 0-14 hours per week (no guarantee of hours)

Pilot a gender-specific Safer Drug Use Space for women, trans, 2-spirited and non-binary people accessing Carole Anne’s Place and the Transitional Living Program at YWCA Hamilton. The harm reduction worker will play a key role in witnessing consumption of illicit substances, responding to overdose, building participation and community and providing gender-specific and trauma-informed harm reduction services.

Responsible for providing harm reduction health education, referrals to treatment and other health care services, responding to overdoses and emergencies, and making referrals to health supports, housing supports, legal advocacy and other related services.

Our program operates from a gender-specific harm reduction framework and the intention is to provide a safer space for people to use drugs. The harm reduction workers will play a key role in supporting women (inclusive of trans, cis, and 2-spirited) and non-binary people who experience homelessness and substance use and access Carole Anne’s Place.

• Maintains a hygienic, organized, comfortable and respectful environment in the Safer Use Space;
• Greets and engages participants, orients participants to the service and space and completes brief intake and review of service user agreements;
• This position will work collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members, inclusive of Carole Anne’s Place Coordinators and other staff of YWCA Hamilton, health care providers from Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team (HAMSMART), peer workers and other health and social service providers;
• Collects and documents all information relevant to the Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) agreement with Health Canada and YWCA Hamilton – and participates in an ongoing evaluation and review of the space;
• Supervises consumption and responds appropriately in the event of a drug poisoning crisis;
• Offers gender-specific harm reduction supports and aims to improve the quality of life and health of all program participants;
• Works within general rules, procedures and standards, referring issues or problems to supervisor;
• Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with sensitive and personal client, employee and contract information;
• Provides reports and updates to Program Management when required;
• Understands emerging trends, leading practices, industry professional standards;
• Provides recommendations to strengthen existing policies and/or processes;
• Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;
• Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;
• Other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Relief 0-14 hours/week (no guarantee of hours).
• Works overnight shift with a possibility of additional daytime, afternoon and evening hours as required;
• Regularly works in emotional charged situations requiring resolution;
• Work environment may be hostile or violent at times.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of drug use, homelessness, violence and mental health for the population accessing Carole Anne’s Place – through a combination of lived experience, work experience and/or education and training;
• Ability to bring an intersectional feminist, trauma-informed and anti-racist/anti-oppressive approach to supporting women, trans, 2-spirit and non-binary people who use drugs and experience homelessness;
• 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;
• Understanding of what it means to support program participants through a low-barrier and non-judgmental approach;
• Demonstrated capacity for accurate documentation, collaboration with an interdisciplinary team and strong oral, written and listening skills;
• Willingness to learn and be adaptable as the pilot program develops and evolves;
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment;
• Knowledge of community services, resources, and strong advocacy skills is considered an asset;
• Must have a current Criminal Record Judicial Matters 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;
• Ability to work overnight shifts on weekdays and/or weekends;
• Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset.

Why Work 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 Inclusivity, Equity, Community, Self-determination, and Accountability. 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
• Staff fitness, childcare and recreation 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!

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.

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

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.