Relief Residential Support Worker- Assigned Lines

Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

First Aid/CPR-C and Naloxone training

Bilingual capabilities

Driver’s license and vehicle access

Access to community resources

Job summary

Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region seeks Relief Residential Support Workers to provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered support to women and children in emergency shelter settings in Kitchener and Cambridge. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and overnights across rotating lines.

Responsibilities include crisis support, safety planning, advocacy, and discharge planning, with a focus on empowering residents toward safety and independence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or MSW or Psychology degree required
• SSW diploma with related Violence Against Women sector experience
• Experience in residential or shelter setting
• Feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practice frameworks applied in work
• Crisis management, de-escalation, and decision-making skills
• Knowledge of impacts of abuse on women and children
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple demands
• Proficiency with basic computer software

Responsibilities

• Providing crisis line and in-shelter emotional support
• Supporting safety planning, risk assessment, and ongoing needs assessment
• Facilitating one-to-one and group-based support activities
• Supporting women and children to adapt to communal living environments
• Providing referrals, advocacy, and discharge planning
• Supporting residents’ transitions toward safety and independence

Skills

Crisis management

De-escalation

Decision making

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Written communication

Basic computer skills

Education

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Psychology degree

Social Service Worker (SSW) diploma

Job description

Do you believe everyone deserves to live free from violence and abuse?

Do you bring a feminist, anti-oppressive, and survivor-centered approach to your work?

Are you passionate about supporting women and children as they move beyond violence?

Position Details

Position Title: Relief Residential Support Worker- Assigned line

Locations: Anselma House – Kitchener, Haven House – Cambridge

Employment Status: Casual, assigned relief line (days, evenings, overnights- awake, weekends)

Hourly Wage: $26.06 per hour, as per UNIFOR Local 302 Collective Agreement

Assigned relief lines are ongoing, recurring schedules. Successful candidates are expected to be available and commit to the full rotation of their assigned line.

Shift Definitions:

Relief Residential Support Workers may be scheduled for the following shift types, rotating between Kitchener and Cambridge location:

• Day shifts: typically start at 7:30 a.m. or 8:00 a.m.
• Night shifts (overnights): typically start at 11:30 p.m. or 12:00 a.m.

Exact start times may vary by site and operational needs and will be confirmed during scheduling.

Rotating Line – Nights - Off - Days - Off (Repeating)

• Initial Rotation Example:
• Saturday & Sunday: Night shifts
• Following weekend: Off
• Next Saturday & Sunday: Day shifts

About the Role

Relief Residential Support Workers provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered support to women and children living in emergency shelter due to domestic violence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing crisis line and in-shelter emotional support
• Supporting safety planning, risk assessment, and ongoing needs assessment
• Facilitating one-to-one and group-based support activities
• Supporting women and children to adapt to communal living environments
• Providing referrals, advocacy, and discharge planning
• Supporting residents’ transitions toward safety and independence

Relief staff must be flexible and able to work evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts as required by their assigned line.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), Psychology degree or
• Social Service Worker (SSW) diploma with related experience in the Violence Against Women (VAW) sector
• Experience working in a residential or shelter-based setting
• Demonstrated ability to apply feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive frameworks in practice
• Strong crisis management, de-escalation, and decision-making skills
• Knowledge of the impacts of abuse on women and children
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple competing demands
• Proficiency with basic computer software

Assets

• Experience providing crisis intervention, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction support
• Experience conducting risk assessments and ongoing safety planning
• Experience working with interpreters
• Knowledge of and ability to access community resources
• Valid First Aid/CPR-C and Naloxone certification (training provided if required)
• Ability to communicate in two or more languages
• Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle, and sufficient insurance coverage

Employment Requirements

• Successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check

Who We Are

• Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) provides emergency shelter and outreach support to women and children moving beyond violence
• We operate two 24/7 shelters: Anselma House (Kitchener) & Haven House (Cambridge)

We are more than shelter. WCSWR also delivers a robust, region-wide outreach program supporting families impacted by domestic violence. WCSWR supports women, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals.

Why Work at WCSWR?

• A passionate, values-driven team
• A supportive and inclusive workplace culture
• Leadership committed to continuous improvement and listening to staff feedback
• Ongoing learning and professional development opportunities
• Programs focused on staff wellness, engagement, and growth

Additional Information

• This posting reflects an existing vacancy.
• Artificial intelligence may be used to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process.

Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We welcome applications from racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities.

Applicants requiring accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process may contact, in confidence: Caitlin Ramcharitar, Human Resources Manager ([e-mail])