Youth Peer Support Worker

Association for New Canadians•St. John's, NL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Association for New Canadians is seeking a Youth Peer Support Worker to provide non-clinical, peer-based support to youth accessing their programs. This role is grounded in lived or living experience and focuses on building connection, trust, and hope through mentorship, relational engagement, and strengths-based support. The Peer Support Worker will assist youth in navigating challenges, developing skills, and accessing community resources. This position is non-clinical and does not involve counselling, therapy, crisis intervention, diagnosis, assessment, or case management. The role operates in accordance with guiding principles of youth voice and choice, lived experience as expertise, hope, recovery, and resilience, healthy boundaries and ethical practice, and inclusion, diversity, and respect.

Requirements

Lived or living experience with mental health challenges and/or substance use, with demonstrated progress in personal recovery
Be between 16 and 25 years of age
Be a permanent resident
Have migrated to Canada within the past five years
Ability to use lived experience safely, purposefully, and appropriately in a peer role
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, particularly with youth
Understanding of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and youth-centered approaches
Basic computer and documentation skills
Satisfactory Criminal Record Screening and Vulnerable Sector Check from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary

Nice To Haves

The ability to speak more than one language would be considered an asset
Experience working or volunteering with youth or vulnerable populations is an asset
Knowledge of local youth services and community resources is an asset

Responsibilities

Build safe, respectful, and trusting relationships with youth participants
Provide one-on-one and/or group peer support through shared lived experience
Offer emotional support, encouragement, and validation in a non-judgmental way
Support youth in identifying strengths, setting personal goals, and developing coping strategies
Encourage independence, resilience, and self-advocacy
Assist youth in navigating community services (e.g., housing, education, employment, health supports)
Facilitate or co-facilitate group activities, workshops, or peer-led initiatives
Maintain clear and consistent boundaries appropriate to the peer support role
Recognize when a youth may require additional or clinical support and connect them to appropriate services
Follow organizational protocols for safety, including escalation procedures when needed
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation
Participate in supervision, team meetings, and ongoing training