Peer Support Worker

**TERM PART-TIME** POSITION IN NORTH SHORE/SQUAMISH VALLEY**

**CLOSES: Open Until Filled**
- **Great opportunity to join the Squamish Nations community**:

- **Take your career to new heights with a dynamic and progressive First Nations government**

**Who We Are**:
Squamish Nation consists of 23 villages and is comprised of descendants of the Coast Salish Aboriginal people who live in the present-day Greater Vancouver area, Gibson’s Landing, and Squamish River watershed. The Squamish Nation has occupied and governed the territory since beyond recorded history. The Squamish Nation's culture is rich and resilient. We continue to practice our customs and traditions, which are strongly interconnected with our traditional territory. Together with our lands, our customs and traditions are the foundations of who we are as Skwxwú7mesh.
As an organization, we provide support to the greater Squamish Nation Community through service. With 12 departments with individual areas of expertise, we ensure Community Members have access to necessary programs and services.

**ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY**:
Reporting to the Manager of Community Health and Wellness, under the supervision of Manager of Squamish Valley Operations, and working closely with the other Peer Worker and the Mental Wellness and Substance Use Clinicians, the Peer Worker is a valued member of our community-based interdisciplinary health and wellness team. They provide Harm Reduction education, training, engagement and support to the Squamish Nation community and staff in Squamish Valley and occasionally in North/West Vancouver. They also help to inform community members about, and connect them to, existing Mental Health and Addictions services as offered by the Yúustway Health and Wellness team and/or the wider community. An important part of the role is to engage peers at the community level, asking what they want in terms of harm reduction services, programming, and education, to help inform our services and program development.
The Peer Worker meets each client/Member where they are at, and collaborates effectively and creatively with them, their family/friends (when appropriate), team members, our Elder Advisors, and community partners to support them on their healing journey. They place an emphasis on outreach and provide advocacy where necessary. They practice from a place of respect for, and a willingness to learn about, the Squamish worldview that recognizes and honours the values, beliefs and customs of individuals, families, and the community.
We are looking for someone who is flexible, reliable, relatable, and passionate and who takes a holistic approach to their work, has strong interpersonal and communication skills and will work collaboratively with Nation Members, our interdisciplinary team, the Squamish Nation community and partners.

**What You Bring**:

- Combination of education and experience.
- A desire and an ability to help and support others.
- Strong interpersonal and listening skills.
- Comfortable regularly engaging with community members and staff.
- High level of emotional intelligence, patience, and integrity.
- Willingness to draw upon own personal experiences with substance use to help others.
- Maintains composure in high-pressure situations.
- Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to the needs of peers and consumers.
- Knowledge of the principles of recovery.
- Comfortable setting clear boundaries and practicing assertive communication.
- Highly reliable and resourceful with an ability to creatively solve problems.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Comfortable asking for help and able to take direction from others.
- Acts ethically and with the highest degree of confidentiality.
- Team-oriented with a positive, approachable attitude.
- A strong, solid support group and active self-care regimen.

**Starting Salary**: $ 25.70/hour, plus a comprehensive benefit program.

**Why Work With Us**:
As a dynamic community organization, we understand the importance of employing enthusiastic and talented people to work together. We know that our future strength and growth is very much dependent on our key resources - our people. With a variety of programs and services, we offer career paths that fit many areas of expertise, backgrounds, and interests. Along with competitive compensation and benefits, we offer excellent training and development opportunities within an environment that values diversity through the respect and appreciation of each person for their individual attributes.