Peer Support Worker

**Peer Support Worker**

**The Street Team**

**Permanent | Full-Time**

The road to recovery is not linear and we acknowledge that everyone’s journey is different. We know how hard it is to seek and accept support you when you are in a dark place. The Peer Support Worker understands this because they have lived it. This role is critical to our community, as the Peer Support Worker is one of the first welcoming people from the Alex that our clients meet. In order to thrive in this role, you must have walked this path yourself and gained the confidence, tools and skillset to interact comfortably with humans who are active in their addictions and mental health struggles. You demonstrate mastery of the delicate balance between engaging with empathy and compassion, while maintaining professional boundaries. You are an advocate who believes deeply in harm reduction and trauma-informed care. If this sounds like you, please read on before reaching out to let us know that you are interested in discussing how you can share your wisdom and skills to support others.

**What we do and why we do it**:
The Alex Community Health Centre provides comprehensive health services in a multidisciplinary team through a welcoming, accessible, confidential, non-judgmental, and trauma-informed environment. The goal of the Street Team is to provide outreach services to connect vulnerable and often street-involved Calgarians to health care and essential services. Services include support related to substance use, mental and physical health as well as social supports to reduce barriers and to improve clients’ health outcomes.

Reporting to the Street Team Lead, the Peer Support Worker will work in collaboration with the Community and Youth Health Centre Team, the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) team, Street Team Social Workers, and other Alex staff to support individuals of all ages, who are experiencing challenges associated with mental health and addictions. Working from a recovery orientated framework with principles of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, the Peer Support Worker delivers front-line, flexible, and proactive outreach to support individuals to achieve stability and wellness. This is a full time, permanent position.

**What you will do**:

- Using the strengths, skills and wisdom gained from one’s own recovery to connect with clients through shared lived experience
- Provide outreach peer support for people impacted by substance use using a recovery oriented framework and harm reduction philosophy
- Promote peer support philosophy and empower people through their recovery journey
- Connect clients to supports such as obtaining identification, housing and other basic needs
- Build relationships with clients to understand community context and reduce barriers that limit access to health and social support
- Occasionally, respond to crises and urgent situations
- Assist other staff in Facilitating recovery and harm reduction oriented groups
- Participate in data collection and program evaluation
- Occasionally drive clients to approved community destinations
- Adhere to Peer Support Canada’s Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice
- Complete required documentation to ensure accurate, timely, and useful collection of client information and program data.
- Other duties as required

**What you will bring**:

- Completion of the CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support course considered a strong asset
- Two years related experience (volunteering or paid), preferably in peer support working with individuals with substance use or mental health concerns
- Strong understanding of Peer Support Competencies, Peer Support Core Values and Peer Support Code of Conduct
- Confidence and realistic optimism about the recovery process, that was gained through personal, Lived experience
- Ability and Comfort working independently and contributing positively as part of a team
- Superior interpersonal skills and confidence initiating conversations with clients.
- Basic computer skills
- High level of self-awareness, initiative and self-motivation
- Flexible and adaptable to varied client goals and stages of readiness and to working in multiple environments with diverse clientele.
- Determined and committed to excellence for oneself and others.
- Non-violent Crisis Intervention and Mental Health First Aid an asset
- Minimum Standard First Aid - Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date, certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire
- Satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance is required
- Knowledge of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) 94 Calls to Action considered an asset

**Work Environment**
- 1 FTE - 37.5 hours/week
- This role primarily takes place in the community performing outreach which will include a combination of driving, sitting, standing, and walking, possibly for extended periods of time in