Peer Community Service Worker

**Grow with us**

Family Service Toronto (FST) helps people face a wide variety of life challenges. For over 100 years, we have worked with individuals, families and communities destabilized by precarious mental health and/or socioeconomic circumstances, to achieve greater resilience, stability, and equity.

We’re proud of our people and culture We are constantly evolving what we do and how we do it. Our work is grounded in the lived experience of the clients and the community. We celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and excellence. We are agile, learning and always willing to try new things.

**The Opportunity**

Reporting to the Manager, Children’s Options Services and Community Networking, the Peer Community Service Worker will provide support and resources to the Afghan community groups through educational workshops and peer support. Group programs are run on a weekly and biweekly basis, both virtual and in-person. Workshops and peer support groups and activities focus on topics and awareness about gender based/family violence and prevention, empowerment, self-care, mental health, leadership, and other topics to support a healthy settlement and integration process for newcomers.

**Ready to make that move? Here’s what’s in it for you**:

- Thrive in trust-based culture and have fun, working with an amazing, diverse group of driven, talented people.
- Be part of a workplace incorporating trauma informed care into all aspects of service delivery, building on the principles of knowledge-building and resiliency.
- Get on-the-job training and development.
- Make a significant impact on our clients and community.

**Responsibilities**:

- Engage in community outreach and raise awareness about the Healthy Family Health Communities programs.
- Assist in recruitment and registration of new groups participants.
- Assist in research and planning for the in-person and virtual group activities.
- Assist in room set-up, snack preparation and clean up of in person groups.
- Assist in creation and facilitation of educational workshops and peer support groups.
- Assesses client needs from a bio-psycho-social framework.
- Supports clients to locate, access and evaluate appropriate support and community resources.
- Collaborates with service providers and community resources as needed.
- Advocates with the client/family for appropriate resources as needed.
- Identifies and reports high risk situations and completes documentation as required.
- Ensures the regular and timely recording of case notes, client and service data as required by funders and FST policy.
- Implements/participates in program evaluation and client record audits.
- Delivers service and conducts work in accordance with the accreditation requirements.
- Represents FST at community planning/partnership tables as requested.

**Qualifications**:

- Must be returning to school (secondary or post secondary) in September, in a related field of study.
- Some experience in the social service/immigration/newcomer sector.
- Knowledge and experience providing service and supports to newcomers to Canada.
- Knowledge of evidence based practices and supports for individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities.
- Knowledge of trauma informed approach to service delivery.
- Demonstrated assessment, formulation, planning, intervention, and evaluation skills.
- Experience facilitating group education sessions.
- Demonstrated knowledge of developmental services and community resources in Toronto.
- Demonstrated understanding of the issues faced by newcomers to Canada and their families.
- Demonstrated commitment to person-directed service.
- Strong advocacy skills.
- Demonstrated ability to engage in creative problem solving and decision making.
- Strong interpersonal and communication (verbal, written and listening) skills.
- Strong conflict resolution skills, diplomacy and tact when dealing with challenging situations.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team and build strong relationships with service partners.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate across sectors, for the supports clients need and to build capacity of others.
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of social justice, anti-oppression, equity and inclusion.
- Ability to work alone in the community.
- Ability to travel in and around Toronto.
- Ability to work flexible hours as required.
- Ability to speak and write in Dari/Farsi is required.
- Valid First Aid and CPR and CPI considered an asset.
- Satisfactory Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Check required upon hire.

**Interested?**

Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We actively encourage applicants from all equity seeking groups. First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black and People of Colour, people with disabilities, people of diverse gender expression, members of 2SLGBTQI+