Social Worker HIV & HCV Programs

Gilbert Centre • Barrie, ON

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Gilbert Centre is seeking an experienced Social Worker (SW) to join their HIV and HCV Clinical Services team. This role involves providing comprehensive psychosocial assessment and therapeutic support to individuals living with or at risk of HIV and hepatitis C. Many clients face complex challenges related to mental health, substance use, trauma, stigma, and social determinants of health. The position specifically supports people living with, newly diagnosed with, affected by, or at increased risk of HIV, addressing issues like stigma, disclosure, treatment access, and engagement in care. The Social Worker will be part of a multidisciplinary team that practices harm reduction, centers client autonomy, and is committed to health equity, delivering integrated, client-led care across clinical and community settings. This role includes short-term counseling, crisis support, system navigation, advocacy, and community engagement to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities for underserved populations.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited university.
• Registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Minimum of three (3) years of SW experience, preferably in HIV and/or HCV services.
• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice.
• Strong understanding of social determinants of health.
• Strong understanding of Suicide Risk Assessment, preferably ASIST trained.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations, including 2S-LGBTQ+ communities, people who use drugs, individuals experiencing homelessness, sex workers, and newcomers.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and engagement skills.
• Proficiency in electronic health record systems.
• Valid Ontario driver’s license and willingness to travel within the region.
• Maintenance of additional professional liability insurance appropriate to the scope of services.
• Demonstrated understanding of HIV-related stigma, diagnosis adjustment, disclosure, treatment access, adherence, retention in care, and the psychosocial needs of people living with, affected by, newly diagnosed with, or at increased risk of HIV.
• Demonstrated ability to provide short-term counselling, crisis/acute support, safety planning, advocacy, and system navigation, while identifying when referral to longer-term or specialized mental health care is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including mental health, substance use, trauma, stigma, treatment adherence challenges, and social complexity.
• Provide short-term counselling, psychosocial stabilization, crisis/acute support, and brief structured interventions.
• Support clients in processing diagnosis, disclosure, identity, relationships, and the broader life impact of HIV/HCV.
• Provide targeted support around HIV-related stigma, disclosure, diagnosis adjustment, treatment access, treatment adherence, re-engagement in care, and barriers experienced by people living with, affected by, newly diagnosed with, or at increased risk of HIV.
• Conduct risk assessments and lead psychosocial crisis intervention, de-escalation, and safety planning.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate therapeutic and/or psychoeducational groups.
• Stay informed about current best practices and regulatory changes in HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C care.
• Make appropriate referrals for longer-term psychotherapy, specialized mental health care, addiction medicine, psychiatric care, or other services when client needs exceed the intended scope of this role.
• Work in close collaboration with the Health Program Manager and interdisciplinary team to support engagement in care and address barriers to treatment.
• Lead navigation of complex social systems, including housing, income supports, legal systems, and community resources.
• Support clients in accessing mental health and addictions services, financial supports, and community-based care.
• Participate in case conferences, team huddles, and coordinated care planning.
• Lead the delivery of mental health related professional development opportunities for Gilbert Centre staff.
• Support clients in navigating complex provincial and federal systems, including income supports, disability benefits (ODSP), and identity documentation processes; complete required documentation such as the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index and serve as a guarantor for Ontario birth certificate applications.
• Work collaboratively with the Linkage to Care Coordinator to support people living with HIV who are newly diagnosed, re-engaging in care, experiencing treatment access barriers, or requiring coordinated support.
• Advocate alongside clients to address systemic barriers, including poverty, housing instability, stigma, discrimination, criminalization, and healthcare access challenges.
• Promote client autonomy, rights, self-determination, and informed decision making.
• Contribute a psychosocial and social determinants lens to interdisciplinary care planning and service delivery.
• Support underserved populations including 2S-LGBTQ+ communities, people who use drugs, sex workers, newcomers, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Support clients experiencing stigma related to HIV, HCV, substance use, sex work, homelessness, incarceration, sexuality, gender identity, race, migration status, and other intersecting forms of marginalization.
• Participate in outreach initiatives, including pop-up clinics and community-based service delivery in settings such as shelters and community agencies.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations to improve access to HIV/HCV care and support services.
• Contribute to education and capacity-building related to harm reduction, stigma reduction, and HIV prevention for staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Support testing and care pathways by helping clients understand, access, and follow up on HIV, HCV, HBV, and STBBI testing, treatment, and referral options.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record in accordance with professional and legal standards.
• Adhere to the standards of practice of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation, and team-based learning.
• Stay current with best practices in HIV/HCV care, harm reduction, and trauma-informed social work.
• Complete documentation and service tracking required for organizational and funder reporting, including relevant HIV/HCV program reporting systems such as OCASE/OCHART/TREAT or other applicable tools.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits through Canada Life, including health, dental, vision, and drug coverage.
• Generous paid time off: 3 weeks’ vacation, 3 weeks’ sick leave, and 1 week of float time to start.
• The security and protections of a unionized workplace (CUPE Local 1813.14).
• A workplace culture rooted in autonomy, hope, courage, and compassion – not just for clients, but for staff.
• The chance to practice relational, community-based, client-centred social work in an integrated HIV/HCV/STBBI program.
• Opportunities for professional development within a collaborative multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level