[24-054] Peer Coordinator

Overdose Prevention & Peer Support Services Part Time White Rock, BC

Hours: 20 hours/week Primarily weekdays, evenings, with some weekend days

We are looking for a Peer Coordinator to join our Sources Overdose Prevention and Peer Support Services team This individual must be compassionate, engaging, and self-aware. They must have a strong understanding and full acceptance of harm reduction philosophy.

About SOURCES

SOURCES is a community-based non-profit organization that has been providing support, encouragement, and hope for individuals and families in White Rock, Surrey, Delta, Langley, Prince George, and Parksville for 40 years. We serve 40,000 individuals yearly and that is all owing to our dedicated team. We welcome people of all genders, races, cultures, ethnicities and abilities. We strive to create more vibrant and resilient communities by offering support to children, youth, families, persons with disabilities, seniors, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and others who are coping with isolation, addiction, mental illness, poverty, disability and conflict. We also support our communities through leadership, education and volunteerism.

SOURCES is also committed to learning about, celebrating and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into our practices as we continue our work in truth, reconciliation and resurgence.

We value diversity, respect and collaboration as we are all striving to promote the same mission—social wellness for our community.

Description of position

Reporting to the Manager of Overdose Prevention and Peer Support Services, the Peer Coordinator is an employee of Sources Community Resources, coordinating programs, engaging people with lived and living experience (PWLLE), and managing the provision of harm reduction supports, supplies and information to people who use substances.

The Peer Coordinator will be helping to grow and expand the Peer Support Network that provides a sense of community for people who use substances in which acceptance, compassion, cultural safety and access to harm reduction and other resources are provided. The Peer Coordinator will engage other PWLLE to provide support to their peers in the community, facilitate peer support meetings and develop and coordinate efforts to outreach to people who use substances and may be experiencing mental health and housing challenges.

General Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and participate in the daily operations of Peer Support Network and Outreach Services.
• Perform scheduling functions for the outreach team, including ensuring staff and peer shifts are filled, and maintaining and submitting all information to ensure honorarium payments are processed and accounted for
• Work with service partners and other external service providers to ensure the programs are relevant, coordinated and integrated with the larger continuums of care, including integration between the OPS and the Peer Support Network
• Promote the interest of drug users and the program with systems of care, external service partners, and community resources.
• Driving our van and outreach team for mobile outreach
• Picking up supplies, food, and equipment for daily/weekly drop-in services and events

Peer Support Network and Outreach Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Manager of OPS in program development.
• System navigation to multiple services and resources
• Facilitate Peer Support Network Meetings and lead the Peer Outreach Team to distribute food and harm reduction supplies and connect with people using substances in the community.
• Recruit and engaging People With Lived/Living Experience (PWLLE) to serve as Peers on the Outreach Team and the Peer Support Network Meetings
• Securing and organizing supplies (and possibly food) to distribute to people experiencing homelessness (clothing, hygiene supplies, etc.)
• Developing and Implementing the Peer Outreach Services activities and operations, including leading the outreach team in community outings to locate and engage people who use substances.
• Liaising with the Tides of Change Community Action Team
• Liaising with other Peer Support Networks in neighbouring communities to ensure connection and collaboration.
• Coordinate training for Peers on harm reduction strategies, destigmatizing language, peer engagement
• Coordinate with other organizations that provide space for peer support meetings and as a hub for the outreach team.
• Provide oversight, support and coaching to the peer team.
• Perform scheduling functions, including ensuring staff and peer shifts are filled, approving payroll and maintaining and submitting all information to ensure honorarium payments are processed and accounted for.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Ensure that effective quality/risk management activities are developed, implemented, and evaluated in the assigned area.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Sources and Tides of Change Community Action Team colleagues including all levels of management, governmental officials, clients and the public.
• Ensure the workplace meets all health and safety guidelines and regulations by implementing and overseeing the organizational health and safety program at the work site.
• Collecting and reporting data on program activities and outcomes to provide to the BC CDC, Tides of Change Project Coordinator and Sources Director of Personal and Family Counselling and Support
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Relationship building
• Ability to work efficiently and with minimal supervision
• Client-centred care that empowers and motivates the client
• Adaptability in ambiguous situations
• Case management including record keeping, report writing and statistics
• Ability to work with a team
• Ability to network and interact with other service providers and allied colleagues
• Sensitivity in a culturally diverse environment
• Understanding and compassionate spirit in supporting peers
• Destigmatizing language and practices
• Trauma and Resilience Informed Practice
• Cultural Safety and Humility awareness

Qualifications:

• Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering and lived experience of mental health challenges / substance use/ homelessness/ lived experience of harm reduction practices;
• Diploma in community social services, the social/human sciences, addictions or in law/justice.
• Preference will be given to those who have post-secondary education and training relevant to the social service field. Alternately, pursuit of certification in social work, counseling, criminal justice or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered for this position.
• 1 year of related experience with emphasis on mental health, substance use, homelessness and/or social services
• Effectively utilize Office suite including Excel, Word, Outlook and central data systems
• Proven communication and conflict resolution skills
• Strong organizational and problem solving skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care
• Effectively communicate professionally, verbally and written in English
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with diverse range of cliental including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health and behavioral challenges
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery and evaluation of services intended to benefit them
• Current Food Safe certificate (Training may be accessed through Sources)
• Standard First Aid and CPR (Training may be accessed through Sources)
• Overdose Prevention, Recognition and Response Training, including Naloxone Administration
• Non-violent Crisis Intervention Training (Training may be accessed through Sources)
• Criminal Records check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records Review Program
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License and driver's abstract
• Ability to transport clients, equipment, and supplies using the Sources Community van provided.
• Must have access to own vehicle (not for client transportation)

Start Date: ASAP

Wage: $25-$27 per hour

Closing Date: April 10thth, 2024, internal candidates will be contacted by April 12th, 2024.