Employment Peer Mentor

EMPLOYMENT PEER MENTOR

**Employment Type**:Full Time - Permanent Role (35 hrs/week)

**Start Date**:As soon as possible

**The Organization**:
STRIDE Employment Services is a specialized mental health and addiction agency serving Halton, Peel and surrounding areas. We provide a comprehensive range of employment support options, which are responsive to individual needs.
- STRIDE offers flexible work hours with a focus on work-life balance
- STRIDE offers continuous training and professional development opportunities
- STRIDE is committed to Psychological Health and Safety & Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

**The Position**:
The Employment Peer Mentor will draw from their experiential knowledge to inspire hope and empower others in similar situations, by providing social and emotional support in order to assist their peers on the path of recovery. The goal of the program is to provide a collaborative, client-centered and person-directed program that responds to the varied and diverse needs of individuals who are experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges.

STRIDE offers:

- Ability to work remotely and in person
- Paid vacation & sick time entitlements
- Group Life & Health Benefits

**Position Requirements**:
To succeed in this role, you must have the ability to effectively establish and maintain relationships with peers through developing trust and rapport and working towards the peers identified goals and needs.
- Work in cooperation with the Employment Specialists and/or Pre-Employment Specialists to contribute to the client’s individualized employment plan focusing on each person’s strengths, identified needs, hopes, desires and personal recovery goals with a clear emphasis on successfully achieving their employment goals
- Assist peers in various activities such as, community re-integration and developing effective work habits and navigating mental health services in the community.
- Build and maintain links to service providers throughout Halton while collaborating with appropriate community agencies and family members as required
- Support peers managing their mental health challenges in the workplace, advocate on behalf of peers while providing mentorship role
- Identifying transferrable skills to increase confidence and self-esteem
- Establishing employment related wellness goals and provide positive reinforcement for improvement
- Use Client Record Management System (CRMS) to enter necessary data and maintain up-to-date files for clients assigned to caseload
- Design and deliver workshops and trainings as needed, to promote community awareness of mental health, employment strategies and Stride services
- Complete intake assessments, wellness plans, and daily documentation
- Knowledge and understanding of specific issues facing people with disabilities, accommodation and disclosure and sound knowledge of common challenges faced by those navigating employment
- Active in your own recovery process with the ability to draw on your personal experiences to engage, validate and role model when appropriate
- Must have lived experience within the addictions and/or mental health system
- Proven confidence to advocate with an open mind of lived experience, within the addiction and mental health system to reduce stigma
- Completed post-secondary education in a related field or equivalent work experience may be considered
- Must be able to show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19
- Must have or be willing to complete, a current Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check
- Must have a valid driver’s license and a car and be willing to travel as needed throughout the region, and be able to work flexible hours to meet program, client or customers production needs.

Applicants should address their resume and covering letter in one file, to the attention of Bonnie Trimble - Manager, Specialized Employment Services.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Vision care

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
All staff must be fully vaccinated.

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Oakville, ON L6M 3E6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Application question(s):

- Briefly describe how you feel your personal lived experience with mental illness and/or addiction and your personal recovery journey could be utilized to support the service user at Stride.

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Milton, ON