Peer Support Worker

**Job Summary**

The Peer Support Worker provides supportive mentorship as well as a variety of services to those living with viral hepatis and/or HIV currently incarcerated, or recently released into community with connections to information about blood borne diseases, community referrals, treatment plans, and case planning. This role includes, facilitation, transportation supports, statistic collection, education, outreach and evaluating service delivery.

**Organizational Status**

The Phoenix Society is a multi-service agency located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia dedicated to providing accessible services and opportunities to people who face barriers related to addiction, mental health, housing, education, criminal justice involvement and/or employment.

**Work Performed**

**Client Services**
- Assist clients to identify barriers and determine positive actions to overcome them
- Support clients by discussing their goals and communicating feedback to Case Managers or Mental Health Workers
- Distribute Harm Reduction supplies and resource materials
- Acts as a back-up to all other support staff
- Assist staff with monitoring the general well-being of clients who might be experiencing substance-induced acute psychosis and/or mental health decompensation
- Draw on personal experiences with incarceration, addiction, and/or mental wellness challenges to provide empathy and support to residents to live their most meaningful, authentic lives
- Maintain client confidentiality and respond to client rights to health care information
- Maintain professional boundaries with clients and staff members
- Practice and encourage respects, trust, empathy, and integrity in interactions with clients
- Convey any information required for documenting on the facility brief
- Other related duties as assigned

**Qualifications**
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Approximately 1 year of experience, including lived experience with HIV/HCV and/or justice involvement
- Experience leading or participating in community groups
- Experience providing one-on-one support in a relevant setting
- Satisfactory completion of a criminal records check with vulnerable sector screening is required; ability to obtain Federal Clearance
- Satisfactory completion of Tuberculosis Screening form is required
- Satisfactory completion of Employee Immunization Record form is required
- First Aid 1 and Current CPR certificate is required
- Valid driver's license accompanied by a drivers abstract is required

**Skills & Knowledge**
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English
- Strong critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to perceive situational or other stressors that elevate risk and act proactively in response
- Ability to engage and involve adults in support and learning activities
- Demonstrated commitment to the social sector with a passion for the organization's mission is essential

**Competencies**

**Approach to Work**
- Demonstrates initiative, flexibility, adaptability and resourcefulness
- Actively seeks and incorporates feedback to inform continuous self-improvement
- Sets goals, creates and implements action plans, monitors progress, and evaluates results
- Adeptly manages competing tasks and uses time efficiently and effectively

**Job Knowledge & Quality of Work**
- High-degree of relevant and current job knowledge and skill
- Consistently produces accurate, thorough, high-quality work in a timely manner
- Builds and promotes a culture of health and safety in the workplace
- Implements and enforces best practices in health and safety within the workplace

**Judgement & Decision-Making**
- Models independent thinking and creativity
- Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills
- Makes clear, consistent, transparent and timely decisions after contemplating various available courses of action
- Exercises sound judgment in the best interests of the organization

**Communication & Interpersonal Skills**
- Expresses themselves clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing
- Displays high emotional intelligence; uses tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential situations
- Has a manner, style and presence that makes a positive impression
- Listens to and considers other's views

**Personal Leadership**
- Models the organization's core values of social justice, teamwork, social innovation, and strength-based practices
- Fosters enthusiasm, energy and commitment
- Takes responsibility for personal actions, performance and health
- Is reliable and accountable; shows up on time ready to work

**Teamwork & Collaboration**
- Effectively works with their colleagues to ensure organizational success
- Champions positive working relationships with staff and external stakeholders
- Supports an environment of openness, and champions teamwork and communication across programs
- Leverages the expertise and experie