Addiction & Mental Health Worker, Peer Support

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services • South Huron, ON

1d • CA$27 - CA$37 • Onsite

About The Position

This is a part-time, contract position for an Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support. The role involves using lived experience to support peers working towards wellness, facilitating groups, and providing individualized support within a multidisciplinary team at a site or community-based program. The goal is to foster a sense of wellness and recovery by connecting with individuals who have similar experiences.

The Peer Support Program operates on values of meeting peers where they are, extending unconditional high regard, upholding peer rights, treating peers with respect, supporting their wellness journey regardless of diagnosis, recognizing the therapeutic value of shared experience, acknowledging the unique empathy of peer supporters, intentionally sharing one's own story, fostering self-determination, and using honest, direct communication.

Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School diploma (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences dans les deux langues officielles du Canada
• Completed peer support training, education, or certification through Peer Support Canada, PeerWorks, Support House, etc., or equivalent
• Training in wellness and recovery interventions
• Successful completion of Level 1 of the OPDI certification
• Completion of the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) program or a willingness to participate in the program
• One of: SafeTALK, ASIST (Applied Suicide Interventions Skills and Training), or Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
• Current CPR and First Aid certification
• Mental Health First Aid

Responsibilities

• Utilize own lived experience (intentionally sharing own path to wellness and self-discovery as well as knowledge of services and potential resources) to support participants in their journey.
• Practice and model the values, evidence-based core competencies, and standards of practice endorsed by Peer Support Canada.
• Facilitate a trauma-and-violence-informed, strengths-based approach to care that emphasizes the importance of hope, self-determination, and empowerment.
• Maintain healthy boundaries within the supportive, collaborative peer working relationship.
• Facilitate one on one and social/support/life skills groups based on recovery and wellness principles for participants in hospital and in community.
• Provide active, supportive listening and assistance with wellness planning, including support with advocacy as needed.
• Ensure compliance with agency Privacy, Confidentiality, and Code of Ethics policies and procedures, as well as the Peer Support Canada Code of Conduct.
• Identify and respond to the concerns of peers experiencing mental illness, substance abuse, trauma and/or homelessness.
• Assist peers to connect to other community resources through experiential knowledge.
• Ensure groups provide a safe and accepting space where peers can gather to support themselves and each other in a mutually beneficial way.
• Ensure OPOC satisfaction survey is completed by peers; assist as necessary.

Benefits

• Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated)
• Grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
• Immediately eligible for optional enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• 9% in lieu of benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED