Youth Peer Support Worker and Community Engagement

**Position Title: Youth Peer Support Worker and Community Engagement Coordinator**

** (37.5 hours/week)**

**____________________________________________**

**About Us**

We are a community-based not-for-profit mental health services provider with more than 37-year history. We support adults, youth, families, and caregivers province-wide, who experience mood disorders, early psychosis, and various mental health or addictions issues, all through increasingly sophisticated and standards-based peer support, including individual, group, and family peer support.

At the end of last year, we changed our name from The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario to Hope and Me. The words 'Hope and Me” reflect our approach, which puts the client and participant first and describes their experience in the services we provide across Ontario. Our programming and services are pivotal in fostering resiliency, promoting self-care, instilling empowerment, and building hope.

**The Opportunity**

The role of the Youth Peer Support Worker is to assist the volunteer peer support workers currently scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays. The incumbent in this role will also provide leadership to the Community Engagement Council volunteers responsible for creating, and executing significant community events representing Hope + Me within the community.

**Major Duties include**:

- Providing administrative assistance to the Youth Peer support, including managing appointment schedules for recovery and drop-in groups. Keeping track of data and statistics for drop-in programs and ensuring all information is captured for reporting purposes.
- Providing administrative assistance to the peer recovery program, including managing the program’s registration and notification list, room booking, and issuing certificates.
- Providing support and debriefing with volunteers when requested.
- Providing support for volunteer programs, including orientation, conducting assigned volunteer check-ins and evaluation, and addressing incidents that may occur in the groups
- Youth Community of Practice Prep + Facilitation
- Stepping in the role of group facilitator for:

- drop-in or registered peer support groups as needed
- one-on-one peer supporter for peer support appointments as needed
- stepping in the role of training facilitator for Peer Support training

**Key Roles and Responsibilities**:

- Provide direction to the group of volunteers responsible for creating and executing effective community events.
- Conduct monthly meetings with CEC volunteers.
- Provide support in developing new and engaging display material, interactive and engaging activities, and creative ways to represent the organization within the community.
- Provide direction and coordination in managing appointment schedules for community requests.
- Keep track of data and statistics, and ensuring all information captured for reporting purposes.
- Provide support in managing program’s registration and notification list, booking events, evaluations, and follow-up.
- Providing support and debriefing with volunteers when requested.
- Providing support for new volunteers including recruitment, volunteer orientation, conducting assigned volunteer check-in and evaluation, and addressing incidents that may occur.

**Skills and Competencies**:

- Volunteer management and supervision experience
- Strong self-management, time management, and work organization.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Excel.
- Accountability and dependability.
- Ethics and integrity
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Group facilitation Skills
- Program Development skills
- Data entry and administrative skills
- Public speaking, presentation, and communication skills
- Confidentiality and ethical practice skills
- Event planning experience

**Knowledge and Experience**:

- Strong understanding of MDAO operations, mission, vision, and values.
- MDAO Peer Support Training and extensive experience providing peer support
- MDAO program navigation on the TIPS warm line.
- Experience facilitating various MDAO peer support groups
- Safetalk, ASIST, CPR, de-escalation training

**Working Conditions**
- Hybrid model -Remote work at least 2 days per week including evening group facilitation
- Need to work Saturday’s
- Working at our Yonge and Eglinton
- Independent and group work

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Salary**: $20.00-$22.00 per hour

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability