Intake Addiction Worker (Community Counselling)

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!

Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!

This role can be preformed in the following programs: Residential Treatment, Community Counselling and Safer Use Program/ShelterCare. The Intake Addiction Worker will provide both intake admission and intake support for Addictions Services programs.

** 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.

Schedule generally weekday, daytime hours with one (1) evening shift per week.

Valid G class driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle required.

Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector)

required pre-employment. **

Key Responsibilities:

•       Provide information to participants and/or community members about available services

•       Provide information to referring organizations about available services for some programs

•       Facilitate any necessary referrals for Addiction Services programs and/or other necessary services

•       Support service information seminars and groups as needed for some programs

•       Review, access and update program referrals from central access portals

•       Create and update records on various internal and partner platforms as required by the program

•       Establish strong rapport and maintain appropriate professional relationships

•       Making the initial contact and screening with people requesting service as well as scheduling appointments for some programs

•       Assess complex situations and make appropriate decisions independently and as part of a team, including crisis intervention, risk assessment and safety planning as required by the program

•       Work collaboratively with internal and external partners for some programs

•       Complete documentation and data entry in accordance with agency and legislative requirements

•       Maintain confidentiality in compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

•       Participation and involvement in other programs, Addiction Services and broader agency activities

•       Work both individually and as a member of a team to deliver services

•       Participate in supervision and team meetings, including case consultation and shift change for some programs

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

•       Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and all marginalized populations

•       Strong understanding of interpersonal skills and the ability to engage in meaningful conversations to develop rapport with individuals who use substances using a strength-based approach

•       Knowledge of and training in substance use including associated health risks

•       Commitment to stage matched, strengths based, person-centred quality psychotherapy services

•       Knowledge of community resources and provincial and/or internal addiction treatment services

•       Experience working within a non-profit and/or social services environment

•       Strong communication and listening skills

•       Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry

•       Demonstrated ability to calmly problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment

•       Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team

•       Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative

•       Commitment to ongoing professional development and training

Education/Experience:

•       Minimum College Diploma in Related Field of Study required (i.e. social services, social work, addictions, mental health, community development etc.)

•       Minimum 1 year experience in an addictions or social services setting

•       Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of substances, problematic substance use, homelessness, trauma, mental health, harm reduction and recovery oriented interventions required

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, participants 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.

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 remainder of 2025) and sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year

•       Full-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Account and Employee & Family Assistance Program

•       We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members, including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, $2,000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs

•       We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration.

Grade: 4

Min: $22.40

Mid: $25.65

Max: $28.90

Working Conditions: 

•       Generally daytime hours, with flexibility to adjust schedule to meet program needs

•       Required to work intensively with program participants in emotionally charged situations

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

•       Travel within Waterloo Region required for some programs

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options.  Accommodations will be provided upon request.

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/intake-addiction-worker-community-counselling-kitchener-on-hbRh6K

By end of day July 20, 2025.