Mobile Peer Support Worker

In this position, you will engage in collaborative work within the community, with**: HAMSMaRT, Refuge Newcomer Health, Shelter Health Network, Canadian Mental Health Association and Good Shepherd, Hamilton** as part of the **Primary Care Access and Attachment Team (PCAAT). **This team will be focused on connecting with vulnerable populations to increase access and attachment to Primary Care.

The Mobile Peer Support Worker will be working within PCAAT, a community-based hub of interdisciplinary professionals providing on-the-spot care to clients, collaborating with their circles of care, and improving overall health outcomes of marginalized individuals. In this position you will be employed by Good Shepherd, with day-to-day operational accountability to both Good Shepherd and your Program Site. At Good Shepherd, our services include emergency food, transitional housing and education for homeless and street-involved youth; hospice palliative care; community mental health programs; and supportive housing programs.

The work of PCAAT is based on a fundamental belief in promoting hope and dignity to the most under-served members of our community. You will be working with our patients/clients, visitors, and staff by providing comprehensive primary healthcare services, including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment of injury and illness, consultation, and support.

Good Shepherd and PCAAT are committed to integrating Harm Reduction into our all of our services and to prioritizing the rights, dignity, and choices of those who use substances. By integrating a Harm Reduction framework within PCAAT, we can decrease barriers to service and better support some of our community's most marginalized members.

**How You Will Make an Impact**
- Provide individual face-to-face, crisis and group support to clients, as required
- Facilitate peer groups/workshops in coping techniques and skill development
- Assist clients in constructive and therapeutic activities during their engagement with PCAAT
- Assist clients with symptom management, self-care and positive coping techniques
- Support with systems and referral navigation
- Provide information about self-help programs and consumer initiatives in the community
- Provide messages of hope and encouragement to clients, within the limits of appropriate boundaries
- Make suggestions about resources (books, workbooks, audios, videos) that may have therapeutic value for clients
- Commit to the use of the Recovery and Harm Reduction Models of care
- Collaborate with PCAAT and community partners to promote access and attachment to Primary Care
- Responsible for participating in Good Shepherd's Health and Safety programs, procedures, procedures and work in compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations to minimize risk to clients, staff and others as well as to the property of the Good Shepherd

In addition, the role involves triaging, communicating, and collaborating with hospitals and community health services, allied social services, and facilitating connections with primary care physicians as needed. Collaborating with fellow PCAAT members and community stakeholders, providing supportive counseling, navigating systems, and participating in community activities.

**What You'll Bring to Our Team**
- Consumer/survivor or working experience of the mental health and/or addictions systems.
- Must understand the Recovery model, and ability to relate to persons in crisis.
- Knowledge and ability to work within a Harm Reduction framework
- Knowledge of and experience working with community-based agencies and services
- CPR/First Aid certification and WHMIS training or willingness to be trained.
- Experience working with mental health, addiction, and concurrent disorders
- Experience and sensitivity in working with culturally diverse populations including individuals newly arrived in Canada
- Committed to intersectional anti-racist/anti-oppressive practice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care
- Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
- Outgoing and adaptable to working in a fast paced and changing environment.
- Creativity and flexibility in achieving desired outcomes.
- Hospitable in dealings with clients and other key stakeholders
- Available, respectful and responsive to the needs of others
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Good interpersonal and organizational skills
- Ability to with various record keeping technologies including Electronic Medical Record programs

**What We Offer**
- Be a part of a caring TEAM THAT SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
- Support for continuing EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Staff recognition programs along with access to self-care supports and EMPLOYEE /
- FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
- POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING atmosphere
- Make a difference and provide HOPE Extended benefits
- Good Shepherd, a ministry of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a