Relief Program Worker, Choices for Living ( JOB ID: CHL1337)

Employment Type:   Relief
Position Status: Vacant
Work Hours: Varied as needed
Salary: $30.15 per hour(L5)
Location:  Toronto, Ontario

Application Deadline:   Monday, June 15, 2026

JOIN OUR TEAM
Join YWCA Toronto, where intersectional feminism, community voices, and social justice drive lasting change. We welcome women and gender diverse people of all identities into a workplace rooted in equity, collaboration, and inclusion.

The Relief Program Worker is responsible for providing a program of high quality to women with mental health service needs through direct service in accordance with the Mission and policies of YWCA Toronto and in collaboration with other program workers.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – CHOICES FOR LIVING
The YWCA Toronto Choices for Living program offers support, life skills discussions and referral information for women and gender diverse people coping with mental health challenges who want to make changes in their lives. Women and gender diverse people in the groups describe themselves as dealing with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and a wide variety of other mental health issues. We help them broaden their choices and develop better coping skills. This is done through a feminist approach, which focuses on strengths, competencies and empowerment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implements a program appropriate to the needs of participants and that includes elements of peer-based support and other capacity and community-building elements, such as expressive arts and body-based awareness practices
• Facilitates up to two support/ educational/counselling group sessions weekly
• Works in co-operation with a Co-facilitator to plan and implement group weekly
• Provides crisis, support counselling and conflict resolution for participants immediately following group, when necessary
• Maintains a client file management system
• Works within a team environment; provides support and information to team members
• Prepares room for group sessions and sets up furniture and equipment

QUALIFICATIONS

• In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through a clinically supervised undergraduate degree (examples: Social Work, Psychology, Counselling) or equivalent ( Cases for equivalency will be considered)
• Experience with application of theoretical knowledge to job-related problems
• 3-5 years experience in counselling and group work with people who have experienced or are experiencing mental health issues
• excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, verbal and written communication skills
• experience delivering services with an arts-based or body-based awareness approach
• experience incorporating a peer-support or community development element in service delivery
• a developed self-reflective practice regarding the client/worker relationship
• understanding the dynamics of trauma and oppression in relation to women’s mental health
• excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, verbal, and written communication skills
• knowledge of mental health systems
• commitment to ongoing learning in the field and staying abreast of trends/developments in women’s mental health
• able to deliver culturally competent service in a multicultural environment
• able to intervene successfully with women in crisis
• knowledge of a second language an asset
• lived experience related to the effects of mental health and concurrent disorders an asset

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter if you are a YWCA Toronto Employee. For YWCA Toronto Employees, this position is  secondable.

Posting Date: June 4, 2026

 

YWCA Toronto transforms lives. As the city’s largest multi-service women’s organization, we help women and gender diverse people escape violence, move out of poverty and access safe, affordable housing.

We work tenaciously to break down barriers that hold women and gender diverse people back from achieving equality.

Vaccination Policy: In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate before hiring.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender-diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

YWCA Toronto may use AI-supported tools to assist with parts of the recruitment process; all hiring decisions are made by people and guided by our commitment to equity and fairness.

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.