Wellness Worker (HART TH)

House of Friendship of Kitchener; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service organization in Kitchener is seeking a Wellness Worker to support individuals in a new program for homelessness and addiction recovery. This role involves providing direct support to clients, ensuring safety, and engaging with diverse populations. The position offers benefits, paid time off, and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Interested candidates should apply by October 3, 2025.

Benefits

Three weeks vacation

Group health benefits

Pension plan

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a social service environment is preferred.
• Must have passion for supporting individuals with addictions and mental health challenges.

Responsibilities

• Connect with individuals in the program.
• Complete regular checks of buildings for safety.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal communication skills

Knowledge of addictions and recovery issues

Ability to work independently

Health and social services training

Commitment to team approach

Passion to support people living on low income

Education

Post secondary education in a related field

Job description

Overview

At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

This is an overnight awake position. The Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is a newly funded program aimed at addressing critical health and social needs in our community. The HART Hub will support individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction, offering services that include addiction treatment, housing support and collaborative care. The Wellness Worker will provide support to individuals in the program and complete regular rounds of the property and buildings.

This is a permanent, salaried, full-time (37.5 hours per week) position with paid sick time, personal days, vacation time; group health benefits and defined contribution pension plan.

Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required pre-employment.

Two overnight positions available (please indicate your preference during your application):

1. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (10:00pm-8:00am) & Wednesday (10:00pm-7:30am)
2. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (10:00pm-8:00am) & Saturday (10:00pm-7:30am)

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for connecting with individuals in the program
• Establish and maintain a helping relationship with individuals in the program
• Completing regular checks of buildings to ensure safety of individuals in the program
• Ensuring that individuals are not loitering on property
• Administrative tasks
• Participation in the Needle Syringe Program

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills

• Previous experience in a social service environment is preferred
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of addictions and recovery issues
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision
• Health and social services training important
• Commitment to team approach
• Passion to support people living on low income with support needs including mental health and addiction challenges

Education/Experience

• Post secondary education in a related field of study

Critical Skills

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected
• Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required
• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, individuals in the program and community members
• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
• Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery
• Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
• Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges
• Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping

Compensation

At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

Benefits and Pay

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• Time off includes three (3) weeks of vacation, 5 personal days (3 for 2025) and sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year
• Full-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Group Life, AD&D, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Account and Employee & Family Assistance Program
• Mental health support including access to Employee and Family Assistance Program, $2,000 for counselling services and workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs
• Retirement plan with matched Group Pension Plan, Group RRSP and Group Tax Free Savings Account

Rate of Pay

Grade: 4

Min: $22.40

Mid: $25.65

Max: $28.90

Note: compensation ranges categorized under grades; past related experience considered when determining rate of pay.

Working Conditions

• 37.5 hours per week
• Encountering individuals at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience. We are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace and to being anti-racist and anti-oppressive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from historically marginalized groups. If accommodations are required during recruitment, please let us know so we can discuss options.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here: https://house-of-friendship.hirehive.com/wellness-worker-hart-th-kitchener-on-EogBHM

By end of day October 3, 2025.