Peer Support Worker

**Peer Support Worker**

**Position Summary**

As part of the John Howard Society Adult Services team you will be working with persons 16+ who face adversity in the community. The function of this position is for a Peer Support Worker with lived experience of incarceration and/or substance use, and/or the mental health system, and/or homelessness to provide support to adult individuals who are currently experiencing incarceration and/or substance use, and/or the mental health system and/or homelessness. Activities of this role may include, but are not limited to harm reduction education, overdose prevention information and tools, community support, connecting clients to community supports, informal counselling, follow-up and advocacy.

Primary responsibilities involve supporting those experiencing homelessness or have problematic housing situations. The position involves direct support for clients, data collection, information and referral as needed, cleaning, and active monitoring of Drop In guests. The Drop In will be open 7 days a week including statutory holidays.

**Please include a cover letter (send in a message) explaining education and experience when applying.**
- Connect directly with clients to provide immediate support and conduct intake/needs assessments
- Facilitate client access to services, programs, and emergency supports
- Develop individualized harm reduction plans
- Assist with system navigation of government and community programs
- Identify and provide referrals to local and culturally appropriate agencies, programs, supports, and services
- Accompany clients to probation, court or counselling appointments, where necessary and permitted
- Liaise and collaborate with probation and parole officers, community partners, and stakeholders in a professional manner
- Complete required program reports, data collection, and intake statistics
- Assist with research and evaluation endeavours as directed
- Maintain and build partnerships with community agencies and attend community meetings as needed
- Ensure client confidentiality as per agency policy
- Exercise a flexible, non-judgmental, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approach to people and work
- Adhere to the directives and program standards of John Howard Society of Belleville
- Engage in continuous learning as directed by the Program Coordinator
- Attend and participate in supervision, staff, and team meetings
- Perform other duties or tasks as directed by the Program Coordinator

**Education and Experience**
- Personal experience accessing harm reduction services for safer drug use support and/or accessed other services designed to meet the needs of people who use substances is an asset
- Experience with overdose response, including administration of naloxone, is an asset
- Peer support/education and/or leadership training is preferred
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practises
- Experience working in a team environment
- Comfortable initiating conversation with others and ability to build good rapport
- Interest in educating peers in a non-judgmental way
- Working understanding of confidentiality and boundaries

**Work Sites**
- Drop In
- JHS main office
- Courthouse
- Appointments with clients as needed in various settings

**Hours**
- Drop In is open 7 days a week from 8:30am to 7:30pm (shifts are 8am-8pm), 365 days a year
- Schedule will be made in advance for shifts within Drop In hours
- Evening and weekend required

**Job Types**: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 36 per week

Work Location: In person