Grief and Bereavement Volunteer Facilitator

**Have you experienced the death of a child, parent, sibling or spouse/partner?** **Then you know the journey of grief...and the power of connecting with others who have "been there".** **Now is your chance to train to companion others who are grieving...** **as you continue to learn to live with your own grief experience.** **Share your hard-earned wisdom with others.** If you have experienced the death of a partner/spouse, parent, sibling, infant or child you have reluctantly joined the ranks of those who intimately know the grief experience. And you also know that it is often someone else who has experienced a similar loss who can offer the most empathy and support. Are you at a place in your own journey where you feel you could be of service to another bereaved person who has experienced a similar loss? Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities' Hospice Bereavement Care Program believes that it is possible to learn to live with grief - a natural response to loss - if given safe and supportive ways to explore that experience. We also believe that no one can understand an experience of grief as well as someone who shares a similar loss. We serve Scarborough and the surrounding areas and volunteers are vital to providing the services that support enhancing the wellbeing of individuals at any point in the journey of grief. We train volunteers to provide individual and group support to people who are grieving the death of a spouse/partner, parent, sibling or child of any age. If you are: - caring, compassionate, and respectful - have good inter-personal and communication skills - are committed to providing empathetic and judgement-free service to a range of people from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds in Scarborough This may be a great fit for you. You will receive professional training, ongoing support and recognition and be part of a team of people who consistently say that they “get more than they give” from this unique and life-enhancing volunteer opportunity. **"After the loss of my husband, I lost trust. This training program exceeded my expectations.** **Being here has instilled in me the ability to trust again".** ** ~SCHC Bereavement care peer facilitator** **Required Language** English Additional languages are an asset **Transportation**: Location for training has plenty of free parking and is TTC accessible (a very short bus ride from Kennedy station).  Our groups and individual meetings are currently conducted at the HUB mid-Scarborough which is a fully accessible building. **Minimum Age**: 19 **Responsibilities**: To provide individual and group based peer/mutual support to people experiencing grief due to the death of someone important to them. Volunteers commit to co-facilitating at least one 10-week group in the year following training or being available for individual peer support sessions. In addition to time spent with clients, volunteers must be available for planning and debriefing, regular communication with staff and monthly reporting of volunteer hours. **Training & Location** Participation in our organizational screening, orientation and training, plus successful completion of 30 hour professional hospice bereavement care training (combination of online and in person sessions with certificate of completion provided). Police and personal reference checks. Training takes place at the mid-Scarborough HUB, Brimley & Eglinton. **Commitment**: About 3 hours per week for one full year. Groups and individual peer support sessions take place both during the day and in the evenings. Currently virtually, but in future in person at our offices near Brimley & Eglinton. If you work during the day, your schedule would need to allow for you to arrive at the HUB by 5:00pm. You commit to regular reporting and communication with staff, ongoing personal and professional development and maintaining safe boundaries and self-care practices. **Job Type**: Part-time **Salary**: $1.00 per year Expected hours: 4 per week Schedule: - Evening shift - Monday to Friday Work Location: Hybrid remote in Scarborough, ON M1K 2S3