Peer Support Worker, Harm Reduction and Overdose

Why Fraser Health?:
Fraser Health continues to be recognized as one of BC's Top Employers, are you someone who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others?

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

Effective October 26th, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

Come work with dedicated health care providers who are enthusiastic and committed to provide quality healthcare to our clients/patients/residents. We invite you to find out why more than 95% of new employees recommend Fraser Health as an excellent place to work. Work hard and have fun while you do it.

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Detailed Overview: In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of Fraser Health, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) shares their own consumer knowledge and lived and/or living experience of substance use and mental health to assist clients of the assigned substance use service in their identified goals. The PSW identifies themselves as a peer and collaborates with the client and the assigned team to meet individual needs and situational requirements by providing information from a lived experience perspective in order to assist clients to obtain services from other Fraser Health staff, external service providers and community resources more effectively. Provides clients living with substance use/mental illness with emotional and social support, life skills assistance, information, and resources. The PSW works collaboratively with the rest of the Overdose Outreach Team to ensure the client's self-identified goals for safety, recovery and community connection are supported by appropriate services and practices, and are consistent with the values of self-determination /choice and harm reduction. Provides services in a variety of environments dependent on the needs of the client. Responsibilities:

- Establishes a dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client, contacting and getting to know the client as a unique individual, and clarifying the role of the Peer Support Worker in relation to the client.
- In accordance with a client's co-created care plans, provides information to clients regarding empowerment, self-help education, practical information, resources, life skills, and demonstrations.
- Assists clients with community integration activities, and accompanies clients to a range of community services, and appointments.
- Supports an effective connection between community service providers and assigned clients, family members and significant or concerned others involved in the client's recovery plan.
- Shares information with appropriate Fraser Health staff regarding the experience of individuals with mental health conditions and/or substance use experiences.
- Supports the client to meet individual needs, goals and situational requirements by assisting in the client's navigation through systems such as health care, government and/or housing services, and supporting their continued progress.
- Assists the client towards self-managing all aspects of their life, including mental illness, substance use and other health conditions by such methods as sharing information and lived experience perspective, practical problem-solving, and linkages with peer supports and consumer advocacy groups.
- 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 ensuring referral forms are completed and sent to appropriate referral programs.
- In accordance with a client's co-created care plan, assists clients with the development of life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills by methods such as demonstrating and modeling appropriate actions.
- Distributes medication to clients as per established policy and procedure as assigned. Helps facilitate, advocate and stabilise individuals conn