Job Description
Position: Part-time Peer Support Worker
Bargaining Status: C.U.P.E. Local 4891
Hours of Work: Three days a week, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (occasional weekends may be required)
Program: Peer Program (Location: Various sites)
Reports To: Peer and Employment Program Manager
Salary: $22.10 per hour (plus 4% vacation pay)
Start Date: As soon as possible
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
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 Peer Support Worker will utilize their lived experience within the Mental Health 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 and peer program. The successful candidate will be part of the Peer Support Team and work closely with the staff team at each site.
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.
Agency Responsibilities
1. To have knowledge of and adhere to the agency standards outlined in RCS' Employment Policies & Procedures Manual, in addition to, any other established protocols and processes within your individual program. To reflect the agency's core values of recovery, respect, empowerment and collaboration in your work.
2. Adhere to provincial and RCS privacy and confidentiality guidelines.
3. Adhere to all provincial and agency health and safety protocols and standards, including those pertaining to safe food preparation, storage, etc.
4. To ensure that relevant and accurate information is maintained and disseminated as required such as employee expense sheets, time sheets and time off requests.
5. To accurately adhere to the agency data reporting requirements.
6. To participate on agency committees on a voluntary basis.
7. To participate in agency special events.
8. Attend mandatory team meetings.
9. When shift schedule permits, attend general staff meetings.
10. Engage in regular supervision in accordance with established procedures. This includes participating in regular appraisals of job performance and completing a yearly goal plan.
11. To engage in ongoing professional development as assigned by the Program Supervisor.
12. On a voluntary basis participate in the supervision of student placements, if applicable.
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 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 are 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.
Additional Requirements & Information
This job posting is intended to reflect the general duties of the position and suggest the general level of skill and complexity. There may be additional duties related to specific RCS sites and programs that will be outlined by the successful candidate’s supervisor.
Given the unique nature of our work environment and the complex individuals we serve, all RCS employees are expected to comply with all RCS policies and procedures, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1.
Job offers are conditional upon:
1. Proof of identity;
2. Proof of eligibility to legally work in Canada;
3. Submission of a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening, at the successful candidate’s expense, which indicates that you are suitable for employment with RCS and meet RCS’s safety requirements; and
4. Positive reference checks satisfactory to RCS.
Note to External Candidates
As part of our hiring practices, we encourage and particularly welcome applications from traditionally marginalized communities. This includes but is not limited to: consumers/survivors; members of racialized communities; Indigenous, First Nations and Métis individuals; members of the LGBTQ2+ community; and individuals with disabilities.
RCS is committed to providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities in all stages of the recruitment and hiring processes, and throughout employment. If you require an accommodation, please bring this to our attention and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 24 per week
Salary: $22.10 per hour
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Weekends as needed
Application question(s):
- This position requires the successful candidate to have personal lived experience with mental health and/or addictions. Without going into details, do you meet this essential requirement?
- Do you have experience providing peer support through paid work experience?
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2023-08-07
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