Peer Support Worker

Driftpile Cree Nation•Driftpile, AB

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Peer Support Worker is a temporary position reporting directly to the Health Director or designate through the Maggie Willier Health and Wellness Department. The Peer Support Worker is responsible for providing culturally safe, non-judgmental, strengths-based support to individuals and families affected by substance use, overdose risk, trauma, mental health challenges, or recovery needs. This position supports Strong Roots: Strengthening Community Capacity for Healing and Recovery, a Maggie Willier Health and Wellness Department initiative that will enhance substance use and overdose response capacity through training, outreach, peer-led support, and community education. The Peer Support Worker will assist with evening peer support programming, mobile outreach, wellness check-ins, harm reduction education, recovery support, and referrals to appropriate services. The Peer Support Worker will use lived experience, community connection, training, and relationship-building to help participants feel heard, supported, and connected. This role does not provide clinical counselling, therapy, or medical care. The Peer Support Worker will work as part of a broader health and wellness team, including cultural supports, community programs, frontline staff, and partner agencies, to support safety, healing, belonging, and recovery.

Requirements

Lived experience related to recovery, substance use, mental health, grief, trauma, homelessness, family wellness, or system navigation is considered an asset.
Experience supporting individuals, families, youth, or community members in a helping role is an asset.
Experience working with Indigenous communities and understanding of Cree culture, traditions, and community protocols is an asset.
Training in peer support, harm reduction, overdose prevention, Naloxone, trauma-informed care, Mental Health First Aid, Wellbriety, or related areas is an asset.
Equivalent combinations of experience, training, and community knowledge may be considered.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to listen without judgment and build trust with participants.
Understanding of confidentiality, personal boundaries, and respectful support.
Ability to work with people experiencing crisis, grief, trauma, substance use, or complex life situations.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Basic documentation and record-keeping skills.
Commitment to cultural safety, inclusion, harm reduction, recovery, and community wellness.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is preferred.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by programming.
Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.
Intervention Record Check may be required.
Willingness to complete required training.
Commitment to upholding Driftpile Cree Nation’s values, policies, confidentiality requirements, and community safety principles.

Responsibilities

Provide non-judgmental peer support to individuals and families affected by substance use, overdose risk, trauma, or recovery needs.
Offer encouragement, practical support, and connection to help participants identify their own wellness and recovery goals.
Build trusting relationships with participants through respectful listening, consistency, confidentiality, and cultural humility.
Support participants in accessing appropriate community, cultural, health, mental health, addictions, housing, social, or emergency services.
Provide follow-up support where appropriate to help reduce isolation and strengthen connection to services and community supports.
Assist with the delivery of evening peer support sessions in a safe, welcoming, and trauma-informed environment.
Support participants during group sessions, sharing circles, wellness activities, and culturally grounded recovery activities.
Help prepare spaces, supplies, sign-in sheets, refreshments, and materials for evening programming.
Work with staff, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partner agencies to support culturally appropriate programming.
Identify participant needs and communicate concerns to the appropriate supervisor or support team.
Participate in mobile outreach activities, including wellness check-ins and community-based support.
Provide harm reduction information, basic supplies, and overdose prevention education as directed by program guidelines.
Support community members in accessing Naloxone training, recovery resources, and crisis supports.
Assist with outreach to members who may experience barriers to accessing services, including transportation, isolation, stigma, or after-hours needs.
Maintain appropriate boundaries and follow safety procedures during outreach activities.
Support community education sessions related to substance use, harm reduction, overdose prevention, recovery, stigma reduction, and wellness.
Assist with preparing and distributing plain-language information materials.
Encourage respectful community conversations that promote compassion, understanding, and shared responsibility for healing and recovery.
Support awareness events, workshops, open sessions, and community gatherings connected to the Strong Roots initiative.
Support culturally grounded approaches to healing, wellness, and recovery.
Work respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, staff, families, and community members.
Follow Driftpile Cree Nation cultural protocols, values, and community safety principles.
Support participants in accessing cultural wellness activities, land-based gatherings, and traditional supports where appropriate.
Help create an environment that is safe, respectful, inclusive, and free from lateral violence, discrimination, stigma, or harassment.
Maintain accurate records, including attendance, outreach contacts, activity summaries, referrals, and participant feedback.
Protect participant privacy and confidentiality in accordance with DCN policies and program requirements.
Assist with tracking supplies, preparing materials, and documenting program activities.
Provide updates to the supervisor regarding participant needs, emerging issues, safety concerns, and program successes.
Support reporting requirements connected to the Strong Roots initiative as needed.
Follow DCN policies, safety procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional boundaries at all times.
Recognize when a participant requires clinical, medical, mental health, addictions, child welfare, housing, or emergency support and refer appropriately.
Respond to concerns in a calm, respectful, trauma-informed manner.
Participate in required training such as Naloxone, Mental Health First Aid, trauma-informed care, Wellbriety, and other relevant training.
Report safety concerns, incidents, or risks to the supervisor in accordance with DCN procedures.