Community Development Worker -Children & Youth (WMSH1349) at YWCA Toronto — NeverHard

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Position Status: Vacant Work Hours: 35 hours per week Salary: $57,888 (L6), plus comprehensive benefits Location: Toronto, Ontario Internal Application Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2026 External Application Deadline: Monday, July 6, 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 Community Development Worker – Children and Youth works within a collaborative team to provide meaningful and relevant services within a theoretical feminist framework that includes a working knowledge of the dynamics and effects of trauma and oppression. They work in conjunction with women and children to establish a plan which will facilitate a safe and effective path to independence. The Community Development Worker– Children and Youth is responsible for providing a full range of services which include crisis counseling and the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops, activities and programs for children and youth. ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – WOMEN’S SHELTER Women’s Shelter is a 33-bed emergency shelter supporting women and gender-diverse people, with or without dependents, who are fleeing violence. The program includes a Transitional Housing and Support Program that offers up to two years of post-shelter support to promote safety, stability, and long-term housing outcomes. Our shelters operate 24/7 and are grounded in feminist principles, trauma-informed and strengths-based care, harm reduction, anti-oppressive practice, transparency, and a spirit of inclusion. In addition to shelter accommodation, all programs provide nutritious and culturally diverse food, access to health care, crisis intervention, supportive counselling, individualized service planning, clinical and recreational programming, as well as opportunities to engage in advocacy KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Supports children, youth and families to build leadership by developing and participating in community activities Works in conjunction with the Shelter Support Worker – Parent and Child Support Worker to address the issue of woman abuse and its impact on children Interviews, conducts preliminary assessments and identifies children’s needs and goals Provides information and referrals as required; liaises with professionals and agencies in the community to facilitate the access to services as required by the children and youth Develops safety and departure plans for children Works with children and youth individually and/or in groups to develop improved social and living skills by assisting them to: set goals, follow through on plans, discuss alternatives and make choices and decisions Develops, implements and evaluates group and other activities for children and youth exposed to woman and child abuse. Contributes specialized knowledge and expertise to team members to develop meaningful and relevant services for women and their children Attends regular staff meetings, staff training sessions and case meetings as required Shares on-call duties Regular evening and weekend work required QUALIFICATIONS In-depth knowledge of an academic discipline normally acquired through completion of an undergraduate degree specializing in child development, for example BSW or BECE. An analytical framework that identifies clients' relation to social systems and the demonstrated practical application of this framework ( Case for equivalency will be considered) 1-3 years’ experience in programming, community development work and group work with clients at risk including experience and training working with children of various age groups traumatized by violence Ability to engage children and youth in activities that promote social inclusion, skill building and community building Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of abuse/violence against women and children Demonstrated experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of workshops and groups Counseling approach that is flexible, de-escalates tension, teaches conflict resolution and is focused on success Ability to deliver culturally sensitive services in a multicultural environment Ability to work with an anti-oppression and feminist framework Knowledge and understanding of trauma, mental health issues, advocacy, child development and parenting, employment and/or addictions issues would be an asset Demonstrated ability to work under pressure Ability to handle crisis situations effectively both in person and by telephone Strong interpersonal skills Good written and excellent verbal communication skills Proficiency in Microsoft Word, e-mail and the internet Ability to maintain a positive approach and a professional manner at all times Knowledge of a second language an asset What we offer: Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental Coverage Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Benefit Multi-Sector Pension Plan: Employer’s contribution of 5.75% and Employee Contribution of 3.25% Time off: Starts with 20 Vacation Days, 1.5 Days Per Month Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Health Promotional Days and 4 Float Days Other Benefits: Child Care Benefits, Maternity/Parental Leave Supplementary Employment Benefits, Educational/Sabbatical Leave, and Financial Assistance for Professional Development 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 an internal candidate . For internal applicants this position is not secondable. Posting Date: June 22, 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. Powered by JazzHR