Peer Health Worker

**Position Type** Multiple positions, 21 hours/week to full-time (one year contract with possibility for extension)

**Expiry Date** Until filled

Make a difference We are looking for Peer Health Workers who are motivated to test and grow their skills in community outreach and health promotion. The Peer Health Worker is a core member of our team who will help to develop and maintain relationships with systemically vulnerable people and communities, and provide information to help them increase access and achieve better health.

About Us Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (AAMHCS) is a community health centre that aims to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable immigrants, refugees, and their communities. We do this by facilitating access to services and addressing systemic inequities. Access
Alliance envisions a future in which diverse individuals, families and communities can achieve health with dignity.

AAMHCS has a strong and vibrant Health with Dignity Program which includes a Peer Health Support initiative. The initiative provides peer support to designated people and their families/caregivers. The
Peer Health Support initiative focuses on increasing client self-management and self-confidence.

AAMHCS is also a member of the Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team (OHT), and the lead agency for another exciting health initiative to develop and implement a new health related information access centre in designated high priority neighbourhoods - currently the Stockyards, Kensington/Chinatown,
South Parkdale and Waterfront. The centre will increase access to health services for designated populations. It will provide convenient on-site services related to COVID 19 (testing, vaccines, and antivirals), as well as screening for preventative care and system navigation.

In each of the two initiatives, Peer Health Workers will provide support through navigation, way-finding, communication, prioritizing and connections to primary care, mental health and addiction services as well as community support services. Support may be individual or in group settings, in person and/or virtually, on or off site and can be appointment based. Client interactions will be documented.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration with a staff team that also includes nurses, primary care practitioners, community health promoter, health coaches, settlement workers, counselor therapists ( both internal and external to Access Alliance) and a project/clinical manager.
What you will do
Your responsibilities will include:

- Participating in orientation, training and education;
- Outreach and/or providing support to designated systemically vulnerable newcomers (immigrants, refugees and non-status, etc.) with a focus on health conditions and accessing needed and appropriate health services;
- Championing activities that focus on engagement and inclusion, navigation, wayfinding and supporting independence and self-reliance so a person or group can better manage their health needs and issue
- Providing support in person and digitally to individuals and groups that is engaging and increases self management skills and thinking;
- Providing information on relevant programs and services;
- Supporting the development and implementation of peer health support networks;
- Co-facilitating groups with interdisciplinary staff from designated partners;
- Supporting effective communication between providers and clients including language assistance;
- Documenting client interactions, submitting relevant data and stats, support preparation of reports;
- Actively participating in team meetings, and/or special projects as assigned.
- Completion of one to two years of post-secondary education in a relevant discipline, including a

What you need one to two year community college course or equivalent experience;
- At least one year of relevant experience in a community or health based setting;
- A good understanding of health and social issues in low-income, newcomer and/or racialized communities;
- Knowledge and awareness of primary care, community health and community support resources in Toronto;
- Ability to communicate in English (verbally and written);
- Ability to communicate in additional languages or a language of our priority populations is an asset;
- Strong interpersonal skills are required
- Effective interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills;
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends;
- Community outreach experience preferred;
- Ability to travel throughout the city (no car needed);
- Lived experience as a newcomer (immigrant, refugee, non-status, etc.) is an asset and/or a member of a racialized community is an asset.

Compensation: 28,827- 42,281 per annum (prorated to hours worked)

Hours: 21 to 35 hours/week (multiple positions are available)

Duration: One year (possibility of extension pending funding availability)
Interview: Anticipated that interviews will take place in Mid-N