Peer Support Worker

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

**About Covenant House Vancouver**:
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees.

We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

**The Impact the Peer Support Worker with the Complex Support Services Team can make**:
As a youth Peer Support Worker, you will be responsible for making the first impressions with our youth. As one of their first points of contact, helping with intakes, orienting new youth to the space, and providing support and accompaniments in the community. You will be responsible for the direct implementation of Covenant House Vancouver’s philosophy, policy, and principles as they pertain to client care and safety. You will support the youth with personal planning, referrals to other social services and involve the youth in recreational opportunities.

**How you will contribute**:

- Interact with youth, responding to enquires, helping with intakes, etc.
- Connect with youth on a peer-level, sharing strategies learned from lived experience and providing assistance navigating services
- Model personal wellness
- Support an effective connection between Youth Workers and youth
- Assist the youth towards self-managing all aspects of their life, including their 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 in the community
- Support youth to attend appointments (accompaniment)
- Ensure adherence to and role model Covenant House principles and core values
- Greet and welcome youth accessing CHV services, assess and respond to their immediate needs, and provide them with practical resources including food, clothing, transportation, etc.
- Build rapport with at risk youth 16-24 years of age
- Act as a role model for youth who connect with you as a peer
- Facilitate peer led activities
- Attend all training as directed by your Supervisor
- Meet operational needs as required and ensure the safety of building and occupants, including fire, safety, and emergency procedures
- Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the program areas - both staff and youth
- Support youth with laundry
- Other duties as required

**Compensation**:
**Who We Are Looking For?**:
**Education and Experience**:

- Peer Support Worker training program completion, or near completion
- First Aid & Non-Violent Crisis Intervention is an asset
- Lived and/or living experience accessing mental health, substance use, housing services, gender affirming care, and/or other support services

**Competencies**:

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to effectively listen and communicate with consistency and clarity using active listening techniques
- Familiarity with the challenges facing youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- Familiarity with substance misuse and mental health concerns
- Cultural awareness and flexibility
- Ability to use conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
- Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to reach a common goal
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with the youth
- Proficient computer literacy skills
- Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing
- Ability to take personal ownership and responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work commitments
- Ability to respond to job related commitments by meeting deadlines and being reliable
- Ability to respond positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems

**Compensation**:
**Total Rewards**:
This position has excellent extended health and dental benefits for you and your spouse