Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker

Somerset West Community Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Career Opportunity

Job Title: Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker

Classification: Counsellor Level 2

Department: HART Hub Programs

Job Type: Permanent 1.0 FTE (35 hours per week). Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Location: 55 Eccles

Reporting to: Manager, Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health

Compensation: $27.92/hr – $33.68/hr plus a comprehensive compensation package including time‑off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan.

Deadline to apply: December 5th, 2025 by 5:00pm

About Us

We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non‑profit, community‑governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health and social services including primary health care, mental health, harm reduction, and community development. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who experience vulnerabilities related to income, housing status, substance use, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and culture.

SWCHC strives to ensure our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti‑racist, anti‑oppressive, and trauma‑informed framework that recognizes the impact of systemic inequities and strives for fairness, safety, and inclusion for all.

What the Program Entails

The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub – Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health (SHSUH) program provides integrated, person‑centered supports to individuals with lived experience of homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges.

This role supports residents who have recently transitioned into supportive housing — helping them to strengthen life skills, build community connections, and sustain their housing. Through life‑skills coaching, recreational programming, and social engagement, the position promotes stability, belonging, and improved well‑being.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Manager, Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health, the Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker works as part of an interdisciplinary team to support residents in building independence, confidence, and meaningful social connections.

The Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker supports residents in their daily lives by helping them build essential life skills, engage in meaningful community activities, and maintain housing stability, while also facilitating groups, workshops, and wellness programming. The Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team, responds to crises using trauma‑informed approaches, promotes harm reduction, fosters peer connections, builds community partnerships, and ensures accurate documentation to support program quality and continuous improvement.

What We’re Looking For

Your Education Path

• Diploma or degree in Social Service Work, Social Work, Recreation Therapy, or a related field
• Minimum of one year of experience supporting people who have experienced homelessness, substance use, or mental health challenges; or
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant lived experience.

• CPR and First Aid certification.
• Driver license and clear driver’s abstract.

Life and Work Experience

• Experience facilitating group activities and life‑skills programs in a community, supportive housing, or shelter setting.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by individuals transitioning from homelessness to housing.
• Experience applying harm reduction, trauma‑informed, and recovery‑oriented approaches.
• Experience in crisis prevention and de‑escalation.
• Lived experience of homelessness, substance use, or system navigation is considered an asset.
• Experience in outreach and community engagement an asset.

Required Language

• Fluency in English required.
• Working knowledge of French or other languages commonly spoken in our community is an asset.

What You Bring to the Table

• Highdegree of independence, as this position performsprimarily offsite inthesupportive housing buildings in the surroundingneighborhood
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to facilitate inclusive and engaging group activities.
• Knowledge of community resources related to housing, recreation, and mental health.
• Excellent organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• Commitment to working from an anti‑oppressive, and equity‑based lens.
• Ability to set professional boundaries and maintain confidentiality.
• Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Your Day‑to‑Day at a Glance

As our Life Skills & Community Engagement Worker, you will:

• Support residents in their homes in a daily basis to identify needs and goals to develop and practice daily living skills such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and self‑care.
• Develop and facilitate individual and group sessions focused on life skills, community integration, and wellness.
• Plan and deliver workshops and recreational and social activities that promote inclusion and reduce isolation.
• Support residents with daily living routines and self‑management.
• Build partnerships with local organizations to expand recreational and social opportunities.
• Promote resident engagement in community life through creative, inclusive programming.
• Respond to crises using trauma‑informed and de‑escalation techniques.
• Contribute to a positive, welcoming, and respectful environment.
• Support residents to navigate community resources and build natural support networks.
• Encourage peer connection and resident participation in community decision‑making.
• Identify and address barriers to maintaining housing stability.
• Support harm reduction practices and respond to situations with empathy and professionalism.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team that includes nurses, peer workers, counsellors, and housing support staff.
• Maintain accurate documentation and contributing to program evaluation and quality improvement.

Ready to Apply?

Take your career to the next level! Submit a cover letter and your resume by 5:00pm on December 5th, 2025 to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/739

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two‑Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.