Peer Support Worker (Part Time)

About this position

Peer Support Mobile Crisis Worker – Northwest Toronto Community Crisis Service (Part Time – Permanent)  

The Role and Opportunity 

The Canadian Mental Health Association is looking for a Peer Mobile Crisis Worker for the newly funded Northwest Toronto Community Crisis Support Service (NTCCS). This service provides 24/7 support to people experiencing a mental health and/or addiction crisis in northwest Toronto.  This pilot program is part of a City of Toronto police reform initiative that is evaluating the effectiveness and impact of non-police-led responses to people experiencing non-emergency crises.  This program aims to reduce the harms experienced by people who have mental health and addictions challenges as well as Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2+ and other marginalized individuals.  The NTCCS is governed in partnership with a Collaborative which includes the following organizations: 

• Addiction Services Central Ontario 
• Black Creek Community Health Centre 
• Black Health Alliance 
• Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto 
• Caribbean African Canadian Social Services 
• Jane Finch Centre 
• Rexdale Community Health Centre 
• Yorktown Family Services 

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established and extensive community mental health organization in Canada. We identify and respond to Canada’s most pressing mental health and addictions priorities. At the national level, we push for nationwide system and policy change. At the community level, millions of people in Canada rely on CMHA’s extensive grassroots presence. Since 1918, CMHA has grown to provide mental health services and supports across Canada in over 330 communities. CMHA Toronto was, established in 1953. CMHA Toronto proudly provides services to over 10,000 clients per year, in 31 programs at 13 locations across the City of Toronto. Our services are delivered by a passionate and diverse team.  Join us in providing high quality mental health and addictions services, advocating for a better mental health and addiction system, and providing education and mental health and addiction supports to clients across Toronto.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Peer Mobile Crisis Worker will be part of a multi-disciplinary Mobile Crisis Response Team, which will provide crisis response 24 hours a day, 7 hours a week. This team is multidisciplinary team of community crisis specialists that may include nurses, peer specialists, mental health clinicians, and concurrent disorders specialists. The Peer Mobile Crisis Worker will incorporate experiences in crisis assessment and intervention, de-escalation, harm reduction, suicide prevention, liaise with family members and community members, facilitate client empowerment and recovery, anti-oppressive practice, client-centered and recovery-oriented care, Trauma-Informed care, and culturally competent care to support individuals experiencing crisis in Northwest Toronto. Reporting to the program Manager, the Peer Support Mobile Crisis Worker will work within the context of CMHA’s mission and strategic directions. 

The Peer Support Specialist will leverage their personal experiences of mental health and addictions to employ de-escalation strategies and provide suicide and risk assessments and interventions.  The Peer Support Specialist will have excellent clinical assessment skills to develop safety and support plans to address immediate, intermediate and long-range needs.  The Peer Support Specialist will work collaboratively with the person, their family, and other health service providers to facilitate access to community resources as needed. 

The Peer Support Specialist will participate in community outreach and liaison with key stakeholders and partners and maintain trusting, respectful and collaborative relationships with clients, families, colleagues, referral sources, service providers and the public.     

The Peer Support Specialist will maintain accurate and timely clinical and non-clinical records and actively participate in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Northwest Toronto Community Crisis Service through meetings, training, strategic planning and evaluation initiatives.   

SKILLS YOU BRING 

The ideal candidate will have at minimum an Undergraduate Degree/Diploma in Social Services or equivalent. The candidate will have a minimum of three years of community mental health and addictions experience with a strong knowledge of clinical and crisis assessments, concurrent disorders, homelessness, crisis intervention strategies, Trauma-Informed Care service delivery and strengths-based models. The candidate will have demonstrated skill in client-centred and recovery-oriented care.  

The candidate will bring an understanding and knowledge of working with persons with mental health and/or addictions issues as well as an understanding of the intersectionality of systemic barriers and social determinants of health. The candidate will require strong knowledge of systemic and structural factors (SDoMH) that impact Black, Indigenous, racialized and LGBTQ2S+ communities. The candidate will have knowledge and/or experience of community services in the northwest Toronto area including Black Creek, Downsview, Rexdale, and Humber neighbourhoods. 

The candidate will possess excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills and the ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.  The candidate will have proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. The candidate must be able to work shifts that include overnight, weekends and holidays.  Fluency in a second language and experience working with diverse communities is considered an asset. A valid Driver’s Licence is required.  

WHY CHOOSE CMHA TORONTO?  

If you care about mental illness and mental health and you have the right skills, then CMHA Toronto may be the place for you. We have a positive and fair workplace culture, where staff are provided with opportunities for learning and advancement. We are also big believers in wellness and work-life balance.  Our benefits include: 

• Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), a predictable, secure monthly income upon retirement  
• Comprehensive Group Health Insurance – Health, Dental, Vision, Paramedicals  
• Short-term and Long-term Disability programs and life insurance to protect your income upon illness or injury  
• Work-life balance and flexibility – to ensure you have time for the things that matter to you  
• Annual Professional Development Funding for career learning and advancement  
• Work with like-minded, passionate individuals and make an impact on mental health service delivery  
• Build genuine and authentic connections, with colleagues and clients, with the goal of making a difference  

Salary: $29.1519 – $36.1569

Hours of Work: Required to work weekends

CMHA Toronto is committed to promoting a workplace culture of inclusion, openness, mutual respect, and a ‘no blame and accountable’ environment. Our staff report that they value the flexibility in work schedules and the work-life balance CMHA Toronto encourages. They appreciate the training and development opportunities provided to staff and the encouragement for continuous learning. Staff often comment on the sense of family and personal support that exists throughout the organization.  

CMHA Toronto is committed to an equitable, diverse, inclusive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work and is an equal opportunity employer. As such, we encourage equity-seeking candidates to apply, especially those who identify as black, Indigenous, people and women of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ or women. We recognize and honour the intersectionality of equity-based identities. Personal experience with mental health issues, either through self or a loved one, is an asset. If you are contacted by our offices regarding a job opportunity, please advise prior to the interview should you require any accommodation. 

To be eligible for this role candidates will be required to adhere to our COVID-19 policy and provide proof of vaccination.