Peer Support Worker, Mental Health

Why Fraser Health?:
Fraser Health continues to be recognized as one of BC's Top Employers, are you someone who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others?

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

We have an exciting
**Casual** opportunity for a
**Peer Support Worker** to join our Mental Health team located in
**Abbotsford, BC.**

Effective October 26th, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

Come work with dedicated health care providers who are enthusiastic and committed to provide quality healthcare to our clients/patients/residents. We invite you to find out why more than 95% of new employees recommend Fraser Health as an excellent place to work. Work hard and have fun while you do it.

Curious to learn what it’s like to work here? Like us on
**LinkedIn** (fraserhealthcareers) for first-hand employee insights.

Detailed Overview: In accordance with established vision and values of the organization, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) shares their own consumer knowledge and lived experience of mental illness/substance use to assist Community Short Stay Treatment (CRESST) clients to live successfully in the community. The PSW collaborates with the client and the CRESST team to meet individual needs and situational requirements. The PSW provides clients with information from a lived experience perspective in order to assist clients in effectively obtaining service from other CRESST team staff, external service providers and community resources. They provide a variety of supports to assist clients living with mental illness/substance use such as emotional and social supports, life skills assistance, information, resources, and demonstrations. The PSW works in collaboration with the CRESST team so that the client's self identified goals for recovery and community integration are supported by appropriate services and practices, are consistent with the values of self-determination /choice and harm reduction. Services are provided in any environment including: the streets, shelters, hospitals, apartments, office. Responsibilities:

- Establishes a dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client, contacting and getting to know the client as a unique individual, and clarifying the role of the Peer Support Worker with the client.
- In accordance with pre-established care plans, assists clients with the development of life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills by methods such as demonstrating and modeling appropriate actions.
- In accordance with pre-established care plans, provides information to clients regarding empowerment, self-help education, practical information, resources, life skills, demonstrations.
- Assists clients with community integration activities, and escorts clients to a comprehensive range of community services and opportunities.
- Assists with creating an effective and supportive connection between community service providers and CRESST clients.
- Shares information with CRESST team members regarding the experience of individuals with mental health conditions and/or substance use experiences.
- Collaborates with the client and the CRESST team to support the client to meet individual needs and situational requirements.
- Assists the client 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 and consumer advocacy groups.
- Provides supports related to housing including assisting in packing and transporting belongings and furniture and helping the client to set up their household, supporting the client in cleaning, and orienting to and connecting with the local community.
- Participates in program planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate team goal setting, by attending meetings and providing input.
- Prepares and maintains written and computerized records and completes other program documentation, including writing progress notes, completing incident reports and on-call logs