Peer Family Support Worker

Salary range: The salary range for this position is CAD $27.92 - $29.60 / hour Why Fraser Health?:
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Detailed Overview: The Family Support Worker is employed as a member of a community-based team, as a trained family member/natural support with lived experience supporting a loved one living with mental health issues. The Family Support Worker shares their own personal knowledge and lived experience to focus on the families' various needs and situational requirements, and provides general information as well as emotional and social support, encouragement, hope, tools and resource information in order to assist families / clients in effectively obtaining service from other Mental Health Substance Use (MHSU) team staff, external service providers and community resources. Provides peer-based one-to one or group support to families of MHSU clients in order to increase their comfort and effectiveness in supporting their loved ones, to enhance loved one/client recovery. Responsibilities:

- Establishes a dignifying and purposeful relationship with the families/natural supports, contacting and getting to know the families, and clarifying the role of the Family Support Worker. Engages with families giving ongoing support, or with families experiencing mental health issues in their family or loved one for the first time.
- In accordance with the goals and objectives of the Family Support Program, provides information to families/natural supports through the filter of their own lived experience knowledge, delivered through peer-based 1:1 and group support, regarding care and support of a loved one, navigation of the formal mental health system, accessing community family support services, and self-care.
- Assists with creating an effective and supportive connection between community service providers and families, and acts as a resource for improving family involvement within MHSU.
- Participates in family support groups such as the Mental Health Family and Friends Information Group with other members of the community-based team. Promotes family group support programs by providing information to clients, family members/natural supports, the public, and healthcare professionals.
- Shares information with MHSU team members regarding the experience of families/natural supports of a loved one recovering with mental health issues.
- Collaborates with the MHSU team to support the families / natural supports / client to meet individual needs and situational requirements.
- Participates in program planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate team goal setting, by attending meetings and providing input.
- Prepares and maintains written and computerized records and completes other program documentation, including writing progress notes, completing incident reports and on-call logs.
- Maintains an awareness of current community resources including health care services, social, economic, recreational, employment, educational services and resources, and other agencies. Utilizes the information to assist families and natural supports to access services and problem solve with the client as required.
- Ensures a safe and healthy working environment by observing universal precautions and infection control procedures; removing obvious hazards; reporting faulty equipment, accidents, injures, and near misses; and adhering to and enforcing rules, and reporting requirement in accordance with Fraser Health safety policies and procedures.
- Participates by providing input in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and in-services. Provides input to MHSU staff on the 'family experience' of living with mental illness, and the families' various needs.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications**:Education and Experience**

Lived experience as a family member/natural support of a loved one living with mental illness. Grade 12, plus completion of/eligible for completion of a recognized family peer support training program. One year recent related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, substance use, homelessness and/or social services. Current valid Class Five BC Driver's License and access to personal vehicle with appropriate insurance coverage.

**Skills and Abilities**
- Understanding of the value of lived experience as a family member/natural support of a loved one living with mental illness and willingness to share personal journey.
- Ability to engage, establish and maintain rapport with family members/natural supports/clients.
- Effective interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, the public and other agencies.
- Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
- Knowledge of available programs.
- Ability to observe and recognize changes in family members/natural supports/clients.
- Knowledge of systemic mental health factors/i