Peer Worker

About Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo (The Health Centre)

The Health Centre provides a broad range of services aimed at improving the health of individuals and the wider community. Our services include medical and dental care, health promotion, illness prevention and outreach programming. Our expertise and resources are focused on working with those who experience health inequities and barriers to accessing health services. Collaborating as an interdisciplinary team, we provide services and supports that address the social determinants of health including factors and barriers such as poverty, inadequate housing, food insecurity, substance use, language and culture, as well as stigma and social exclusion.

The Health Centre works with the most complex client population served by primary health care professionals within Waterloo Region. Our highly skilled and diverse team works from a strength-based approach with individual clients as well as the broader community. We collaborate with many partner agencies and organizations within Waterloo Region. Our team consists of Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Chiropodists, Pharmacists, Psychiatrists, Health Promoters, Community Health Workers, Administrative Staff and Volunteers.

We invite you to consider this opportunity to join our team and contribute to this important work.

The Health Centre is currently recruiting for the following position:

Peer Worker

Fixed Term Contract – 12 months, Full-Time until December 2026, dependent on funding.

Salary: $21.84 per hour

Job Summary:

As part of the Health and Wellness Team, the Peer Worker will help centre staff, clients, and community members with program delivery at Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo (CHC). In partnership with the Region of Waterloo Public Health Dental staff, the Community Peer Worker will also support the Healthy Smiles and Ontario Seniors Dental Care Programs.

Responsibilities for Health and Wellness Programs:

• Assist Health and Wellness team by co facilitating various in person and community-based programs that focus on life-skill development, capacity building, volunteerism, and social networking.

• Pick up program items and complete budget/expense forms

• Help with program recruitment, registration, set up and community displays.

• Support Health and Wellness team with program planning of quarterly calendars, evaluation, data entry and reports.

Support Health and Wellness team at community events, front desk and other duties.

Responsibilities Healthy Smiles/Ontario Seniors Dental Care Programs:

• Promote and distribute Healthy Smiles Ontario information through direct contact with individual community members and community partners with links to low-income families as well as community health centre staff.

• Compile and submit dental program data to funders.

• Promote and distribute Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program information.

• Facilitate oral health workshops, education groups, community health fairs targeting children, youth, parents and seniors.

• Identify clients eligible to enrol in the Healthy Smiles Ontario and Ontario Seniors Dental Care program, assist them in completing eligibility forms and share general oral health awareness resources.

General Responsibilities:

• Participate in team and staff meetings and other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support both service delivery and organizational goals.

• Work from a Social Determinants of Health perspective to improve health outcomes for individual clients and/or for the development of community health and well-being, and to reduce health inequities.

• Work in a manner that ensures confidentiality, client safety and minimizes risk to clients, volunteers, and the Centre.

• Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre's Vision, Mission, and Values.

• Work in a manner consistent with the Health Centre's policy and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all processes and practices.

• Work in a manner that demonstrates self-reflection and personal accountability.

• Adhere to all Health Centre policies.

• Adhere to appropriate infection control practices.

• Perform any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Accountability

This position reports to: Manager, Health & Wellness

Qualifications

• Post-secondary school education in social services, social work, mental health, community development, or equivalent experience may be considered.

• Experience and knowledge of health promotion and education, presentation design and evaluation, community development techniques.

• Knowledge/experience with oral health is an asset.

• Experience running groups, providing one to one client support, and community resource sharing.

• Experience working effectively with culturally and economically diverse populations, those who experience barriers to healthcare and who are socially isolated.

• Ability to engage people, communicate in an intentional and respectful manner.

• Training and/or specific experience with non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques an asset.

• Good organization and time management skills.

• Familiarity with social service and health programs and systems in Kitchener and Ontario.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally. Second language is an asset.

• Competency in the use of a Microsoft Office Suite.

• Ability to work collaboratively.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

• Maintain a valid driver's license, access to a reliable personal vehicle and adequate insurance for work-related travel in accordance with Community Healthcaring KW

• Ability to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Health Centre.

• 2-Factor Authentication for Outlook is App based (Microsoft Authenticator Application) and used to ensure the security of our online accounts. 2-FA requires the use of a personal mobile device with a recent operating system.

• Access to a reliable vehicle.

Benefit package

Paid 4% Vacation Pay

Optional Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Application Deadline: November 28th, 2025

The Health Centre values the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from people of all races, ethnicity, religions, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity and those with disabilities.

Individuals with a disability requiring accommodation during the application and/or the interview process should advise so that suitable arrangements can be made.

Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of this recruitment process.

We appreciate all expressions of interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We appreciate all expressions of interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.