Child and Youth Counselor

Ernestine’s is seeking an experienced Child and Youth Counselor to co-lead our Child and Youth Program. The Child and Youth Counselor is an integral team member that provides direct support to children, youth and parent/caregivers who reside at the shelter. This individual will bring strong program facilitation, counselling and knowledge in providing direct and indirect services to children, youth and caregivers escaping violence. The Counselor ensures the application of Ernestine’s values which recognizes the impact of violence on children and acknowledges that the rights of children are separate and distinct from those of their parents.

Specifically, the Child and Youth Counselor develops implements and evaluates age appropriate programming for young children and youth. The Counselor will develop and deliver trauma-informed programs for children, youth and caregivers residing at the shelter. The counselor will also provide individualized support to children, youth and caregivers. Individual and group programming must meet the needs of pre-birth, infants, toddlers, pre-school, school age, youth and their parents/caregivers by supporting them with the following: trauma recovery; emotional regulation and attachment; harm reduction and appropriate boundaries; safety planning; advocacy and referrals.

Our Story

Since 1983, Ernestine’s has helped over 15,000 individuals and children rebuild with dignity and independence. Today, we serve over 700 survivors each year.

In the early 1980s, a group of fierce advocates came together to create a safe haven for people experiencing gender-based violence. Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter was one of the first shelters in Toronto to support women and their children together. What started as a grassroots response to gender-based violence has grown into a multi-service organization. Ernestine’s provides life-changing and life-saving supports for survivors and their children who are experiencing, or at risk of, gender-based violence. Ernestine’s offers wraparound support that works to break the cycle of violence, for good. These supports include housing, legal, financial, childcare, immigration services, mental health counselling, safety planning, system navigation, child-centered programming, and more. These are the building blocks of long-term safety and stability.

Our Vision & Mission

Transforming lives beyond violence.

Ernestine's provides advocacy, crisis intervention and shelter to adults and children experiencing violence, including Women and Two-Spirit, Trans, non-binary and gender diverse individuals.

Our values

• We understand gender-based violence broadly. It includes but is not limited to physical, emotional, psychological, financial and sexual violence. It also works at a systemic level that requires largerscale social justice change.
• We center people who experience all forms of harm and exclusion including anti-Black racism, antiIndigenous racism, Transphobia, ableism and other forms of exclusion.
• As a settler organization, we make an ongoing commitment to Reconciliation.
• We recognize the impact of violence on children and acknowledge that the rights of children are separate and distinct from their parents.

Our Team

Ernestines’ mission is executed by a team of highly committed individuals in three distinct program areas: Direct Service; Engagement & Development; Finance & Administration. The Direct Service Team consists of dedicated staff that provide programs and services in our 35 bed shelter as well as community outreach programs. Children and youth comprise our largest client demographic in shelter.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide one-on-one client support in emotional, cognitive, social and physical development, and case management for children and youth residing in the shelter.
• Conduct child and youth intake procedures, safety planning and risk management with clients.
• Acts as an advocate with emphasis placed on developing appropriate child and youth resources and connections to community supports, including warm referrals to external programs and services as determined by each child, youth and/ or caregiver.
• Take a leadership role in case conferences with internal and external teams to support client needs, including supporting parents/caregivers involved with child protective agencies.
• Respond to crisis in the shelter and facilitate a co-operative living environment amongst children, youth and parents/caregivers by providing excellent crisis counselling, supportive counselling, role modeling, conflict mediation, and de-escalation skills.
• Proficient in fostering and maintaining a trauma-informed approach and harm reduction framework in work with children, youth and parents/caregivers.
• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate on-site activities for the child and youth in the shelter, including attachment-based programming with child and caregiver.
• Deliver a variety of educational and counselling group sessions as determined by client needs.
• Plan and facilitate special events and celebrations, including birthdays, March break, summer programming and global holidays.
• Coordinate distribution of donated items to clients year-round and during organization-led events and holidays.
• Work with external organizations to maximize clients’ access to resources and to enhance services (i.e., Parks and Recreation Activities; child care subsidy, academic support).
• Under the direction of the Supervisor, Programs and Client Services, identify and participate in community committees, networks and initiatives that address systemic issues related to children and youth experiences of gender-based violence.
• Keep current of trends, community resources and developments in the child and youth and gender-based violence sector by participating in workshops, conferences, and continued professional development.

Key Qualifications

• A minimum three years’ experience with children/youth who have experienced or witnessed gender-based violence and/or abuse.
• Post-secondary education in Child and Youth Care, Early Learning, Social Work or the equivilant combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated crisis intervention, risk assessment and case management skills.
• Demonstrated organizational ability and time management skills to handle caseload requirements, set priorities, compile statistical data and reports for review and evaluation.
• Intermediate computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Valid vulnerable check and CPR.

Job Details:

Job Type: One-year contract with strong possibility for permanency

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: $50,000 to $55,000 annually

You will benefit from:

Competitive compensation

Paid vacation and sick benefits

Employer fully paid Group Insurance benefits

Career growth and professional development opportunities

How to Apply

If this opportunity resonates with you, please send your resume and cover letter outlining how your experience aligns with the role to humanresources@ernestines.ca.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and racialized individuals are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Ernestine’s we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If this role aligns with your passions but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

If contacted, please advise if you require accommodation at any juncture of the recruitment and/or hiring process.

Application deadline: October 15th, 2026 by 5P