Youth Peer Support Worker - Level 2 (PS2), Internal

YBC•Prince George, BC

4d•CA$0 - CA$24•Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Support 2 (PS2) position is not an entry-level position. This role is a significant step beyond the PS1 role and has greater responsibilities and expectations of staff. This position reports to the Foundry Peer Support Coordinator. YMCA BC is the lead agency for Foundry Prince George, working with partners to deliver responsible and meaningful services for young people 12-24 and their families. Foundry is a provincial network of integrated and innovative wellness centres working to transform access to care. Foundry’s mission is to support young people to lead good lives. To this end, Foundry centres offer mental health and substance use services, primary care, social services, and youth and family peer support.

Requirements

Lived experience of critical issues relevant to young people accessing Foundry, including mental health, substance use, trauma, growing up in government care, newcomer experience, etc.
Minimum one-year recent related work or volunteer experience in a support role or role that demonstrates transferable skills
Completion of peer support training through Foundry Central or other provider
Genuine desire to support others to make positive change
Personal understanding of and alignment with the mission, vision, strategic outcomes, and values of the YMCA and Foundry
Successful candidate will be required to provide 3 satisfactory references
Successful candidates will be required to provide a current and satisfactory Criminal Record check with a Vulnerable sector search issued no later than six (6) months preceding the start date.

Nice To Haves

Additional education, training, or experience considered a distinct asset
Trainings or certifications like FoodSafe, ASIST, and First Aid considered an asset

Responsibilities

From a lived experience perspective, offer non-judgmental peer support to young people 12-24 at Foundry Prince George and related YMCA programs
Work as a member of Foundry’s integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team and conduct yourself with integrity
Connect 1 on 1 with youth accessing Foundry and related programs. This includes supporting youth on both a drop-in and longer-term basis where the PS2 may be a key part of a youth’s care plan
Provide follow-up support and schedule booked appointments with youth, including youth with more complexity and higher needs
Consistently demonstrate strong personal and professional boundaries and offer non-judgmental support
Maintain personal well-being and stability to be consistently ready to support others while on shift
Communicate with leadership if circumstances change and personal well-being and stability affect work performance
Lead planning and implementation of peer support groups, activities, or events. This includes developing a proposal and budget to be reviewed and approved by leadership, coordinating activity logistics like room booking, supplies, and support needs, leading recruitment, delivering the service in partnership with other peers or independently, troubleshooting, and documentation
Support planning and implementation of psycho-educational or therapeutic groups led by other team members (i.e.: DBT group with a clinician). Take direction from activity lead and perform assigned tasks
Provide outreach to nearby locations. This includes assessing risk, planning for safety, following check-in and check-out procedures, planning the route, providing support and advocacy when indicated, coordinating with other team members, following up
In consultation with leadership, provide more extensive outreach to support youth needs
Represent Foundry and YMCA in the community and at meetings
Lead or support planning for community events (i.e.: develop activity, gather supplies, host booth)
Use Toolbox and MOIS proficiently and consistently to contribute to Foundry data collection, ensuring encounter information is timely, accurate, complete, and sufficiently detailed to communicate relevant information to other team members
Independently and consistently check email, complete tasks for ADP, and complete assigned learning centre tasks for YMCA BC and Foundry
As scheduled, actively participate in YMCA and/ or Foundry team meetings, huddles, communities of practice, and training opportunities
Communicate relevant information about youth and their care in a timely way to other members of the Foundry team through appropriate channels
Mentor PS1s and volunteers and model positivity and professionalism
When directed, assist PS1s in areas like Toolbox and MOIS, completing forms, understanding resources
Ensure safety issues, near misses, or potentially unsafe situations are reported to leadership promptly to mitigate risks
Work with leadership to manage challenging situations (i.e.: develop plan for supporting youth you know personally from the community)
Perform other tasks related to your role (i.e. administrative tasks, cleaning, managing or preparing supplies)