Gender Health Equity Worker at YWCA Hamilton

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.

YWork 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 Intersectional Feminism, People Centred, Belonging, Responsibility, and Partnerships. 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
• Childcare 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!

Position Description

Job Code: 1-GLP-2025

Department: Health Equity and Newcomer Services

Reports to: Health Equity Clinical Lead

Location: Hamilton, ON

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours/week

Contract Start Date: TDB

Contract End Date: March 31, 2025

The philosophy of this program is to work collaboratively in client-directed ways to reduce substance use related harms and enhance well-being for women and gender-diverse people who use substances. The Women’s Health Worker will work within the broader Harm Reduction team at YWCA Hamilton, to enhance access to health information, support and resources at the intersection of substance use, reproductive health and wellness.

The Women’s Health Worker will focus on delivering workshops and working directly with clients of YWCA Hamilton’s Housing and Gender Based Violence Support Services. The ideal candidate will understand the gendered impacts and consequences of substance use and view a continuum of care for women and gender diverse people who use drugs, as inclusive of harm reduction and recovery orientated approaches.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Facilitate psychoeducational workshops, group sessions, and one-on-one meetings on topics related to substance use, reproductive health, sexual health, mental health, harm reduction, and overall wellness;
• Work collaboratively across teams to develop responsive programming that enhances gender health equity with a focus on reproductive and sexual health;
• Facilitate access to STI/STBBI information and testing, as well as necessary follow up care and support;
• Facilitate access to pregnancy testing, as well as necessary follow up care and support;
• Provide direct support to women and gender-diverse people who use drugs with a focus on harm reduction and reproductive health focused education;
• Work with women to make informed choices regarding their health and recovery, focused on strengths-based approaches and individual goals;
• Participate in community outreach to raise awareness of YWCA Hamilton’s reproductive health and substance use related programs;
• Work closely with allied healthcare providers, social workers, and other community-based organizations to ensure a holistic approach to client care;
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss client needs, challenges, and successes;
• Ensure compliance with all organizational policies, legal requirements, and confidentiality standard;
• Apply knowledge of trauma and the dynamics of gender-based violence to develop and implement effective support strategies including safety plans;
• Works within general rules, procedures and standards, referring issues or problems to supervisor;
• Ability to work with interpreters;
• Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with sensitive and personal client, information;
• Represents the YWCA Hamilton and always maintains outstanding public relations skills and a professional image in the community;
• Nurtures and forms meaningful internal and external working relationships and partnerships;
• Works safely, reports all workplace hazards and follows all YWCA Hamilton Health and Safety policies and procedures;
• Participate and provide mandatory organizational and departmental trainings and meetings.
• Stays current on emerging trends, leading practices and legislation;
• Supports YWCA Hamilton mission, vision and values;
• Perform other duties as required.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Works 15-29-hours per week; Work schedule includes days, evenings, nights and weekends as required;
• Work environment may be unpredictable, and crisis oriented at times; regularly works in emotional charged situations requiring resolution;
• Often works in high conflict situations requiring resolution and safety planning for clients and staff;
• Required to work off site and meet program participants where they are at in the community (including shelters, encampments, other services or organizations, etc.)
  
  

Qualifications

• Completion of 2 years diploma in social work, human services or equivalent;
• 1 to 3 years’ experience working in the areas of substance use and with populations who face barriers to health care;
• Working knowledge of harm reduction frameworks, the child welfare system, safety planning relating to gender-based violence and mental health and trauma-informed care perspectives;
• Familiar working with Hamilton resources and system navigation;
• Ability to work from a non-judgmental perspective, respecting the right to self-determination, autonomy and personal agency of all program participants is required;
• The ability to work collaboratively with other sector partners including liaise with program stakeholders for program development and collaborate to provide onsite support, consultation and coordinated case management;
• Must have current Standard First Aid and CPR/ or willingness to obtain at own cost;
• Naloxone training, NCI/CPI, ASSIST certificates an asset;
• Must be able to lead and work from a feminist, anti-racist / anti-oppressive perspective for operations and strategic planning;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Must provide a current Vulnerable Sector Police check or willingness to obtain at own cost;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and also work effectively in a team;
• Bilingual English/French or other languages an asset.
  
  

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.

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.

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

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.