Peer Support Worker

About this position

JOB POSTING:  Peer Support Worker

Date of Posting: June 2, 2021

Position: Part Time Peer Support Worker

Bargaining Status: C.U.P.E. Local 4891

Hours of Work: Three (8 Hour) days a week 10:00am – 6:00pm with some flexibility required based on client member need

Program: 63 Spencer Ave.

Reports To: Peer Program Coordinator

Salary: $20.42 plus 4% vacation pay

Start Date: 7/16/2021

About RCS

Regeneration Community Services (RCS) is a non-profit community mental health and addictions supportive housing provider. RCS was founded more than 40 years ago, to provide quality affordable supportive housing and support services to persons with mental health and addictions issues in Toronto. RCS is proud to support over 400 individuals on their recovery journey, with a housing stock of over 350 units across the city.

Position Statement

63 Spencer Avenue is a new program that will provide 22 individuals who require a high level of support in semi -self-contained units. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting and facilitating the member’s unique wellness and recovery goals through group activities as well as engaging members on a one-on-one basis. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working with individuals with long histories of homelessness and active substance use. The Peer Support Worker will utilize their lived experience within the Mental Health and Addictions Community to help assist, encourage and mentor the client members through their own personal journey of recovery. The purpose of this role is to embark on a mutual learning experience with the members we serve, rather than assuming the role of a counselor or therapist. The Peer Support Worker will be consistent with the philosophies of the agency/peer program and be under the direction of both the Executive Director and the Peer Support Program Coordinator. The successful candidate will be part of the Peer Support Team and also work closely with the Spencer staff team.

Specific Responsibilities

• Engage and build relationships with the members
• Empower members to advocate on behalf of themselves
• Assist members in accessing local community based resources
• Provide resources and information which would support recovery
• Facilitate social recreation activities and outings
• Develop and implement a variety of group based activities which aid in the recovery process and build skills to live independently.
• Provide a consumer-survivor perspective to program development and implementation
• Help to build and develop a sense of community within the housing program.
• Documentation of client-member interactions in accordance with RCS policies, procedures and protocol.

Qualifications

• Must have personal lived experience in the mental health community. Only applications from persons who are mental health consumer survivors will be considered for this position.
• Experience providing peer support through a volunteer or paid work experience.
• Completion of peer support worker training including training in recovery principals (WRAP or Pathways to Recovery). Participation in or the completion of the PREFER program is a definite asset.
• Knowledge of available community resources in the city of Toronto and resources that would support the recovery process.
• Familiarity with the TTC system.
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Advanced problem solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working with individuals with diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to share lived experience in a relevant and appropriate way, maintaining peer/client-member boundaries as necessary.
• Competent computer skills (MS Word, E-mail, and Internet).
• Crisis intervention skills an asset.
• Group facilitation skills and experience working with groups.
• Must possess a level of comfort and sensitivity in working with individuals with severe mental health issues.
• We welcome applicants to share past employment experience on their resume that will allow for the transfer of knowledge and skills that can benefit them in this role.
• Personal characteristics of flexibility, resourcefulness, creativity, commitment and empathy will further support your success in this position.
• Sound judgement and decision-making, time management, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with the public transit system.
• First Aid and/or CPR certification an asset.

As part of our hiring practices we encourage and particularly welcome applications from traditionally marginalized communities. This includes, but is not limited to: consumer/survivors, people of color, aboriginals, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community.

Submit to: Alison Hunt, Executive Director
alison.hunt@regenerationcs.org