Community Engagement Specialist, Lived Experience/Family Involvement

Fraser Health

36d•$42 - $53

About The Position

Guided by the MHSU Strategic and Operational Priorities and integrating their own lived experience knowledge of mental illness/substance use, engages and motivates internal/external stakeholders to increase collaboration and involvement of individuals with lived experiences and their natural support systems in the care and recovery process. Working in a community-based team environment, plans, implements and evaluates engagement activities and multi-year plans including knowledge exchange plans to support a client-involved service delivery philosophy and infrastructure. Facilitates recovery-oriented services and provides support, coaching, education, training and advocacy from a lived perspective to clients and families in order to increase their comfort and effectiveness in participating within MHSU, including Advisory Committees. Participates in group support programs, team planning and quality improvement activities. This position may be required to work at more than one site within an assigned geographical area.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, or related discipline, with content in patient and public engagement, community development and/or community capacity building. Lived experience of mental illness and recovered/recovering.
Completion of/eligible for completion of a recognized peer support training program.
Two (2) years' recent related experience, including program evaluation experience and project management, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Current valid BC Driver's License and access to a personal vehicle for work purposes.
Understanding of the value of lived experience and family involvement.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work in an environment subject to changing deadlines and interruptions.
Demonstrated knowledge of project management methodology and/or project planning.
Knowledge of the principles of recovery, psychosocial rehabilitation methodology, and systemic mental health factors/issues as related to clients and family members.
Willingness to share personal recovery journey.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
Demonstrated ability in public speaking and instruction.
Demonstrated ability in facilitation, advocacy, community engagement, and community capacity building.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
Ability to operate related equipment including computer applications and related software.

Responsibilities

Utilizes a planning framework that integrates community empowerment into engagement of clients and natural supports to plan, implement, and evaluate engagement strategies, multi-year plans, initiatives, and programs. Develops policies and procedures, participates on relevant committees, facilitates information gathering/ feedback forums, and provides related recommendations and reports, under the direction of the Coordinator.
Advocates in the development of a systems approach/redesign in a coordinated, collaborative manner, building relationships with a broad range of internal/external partners to foster positive culture change around the role of natural supports in influencing individual and collective health and well-being.
Develops project documentation, ensuring consistency with MHSU operational plans and compatibility with evidence-based practice.
Develops a knowledge-exchange plan that addresses topics such meaningful involvement of family and lived experience stakeholders, duties of advisory chair, duties of advisory secretary and effective operation of advisory committees.
Facilitates recovery-oriented services to ensure that individuals with lived experience and their family members receive consistent, relevant and timely access to information about MHSU services and how to navigate MHSU programs. Provides knowledge exchange regarding system navigation and family and lived experience involvement activities such as client and family information sessions. Creates and provides written and online material.
Establishes a dignifying and purposeful relationship with clients, contacting and getting to know them as unique individuals while sharing own personal stories, successes and challenges. Clarifies the roles of the Community Engagement Specialist, persons with lived experience, and family member participants through activities such as Advisory Committee meetings, MHSU committees and task groups.
Provides peer-based supportive coaching, demonstrations, modeling, and behaviour management to clients, their families, and their personal networks, to assist with the development of social and emotional skills, through facilitation of activities such as individual and group meetings.
Monitors emerging trends to guide future direction, conducts literature and research reviews to assist in identifying best practices, and participates in quality improvement activities.
Participates as a member of local and provincial initiatives and/or committees as assigned, and provides updates on status of actions and participated in the development of provincial initiatives.
Performs other related duties as assigned.