Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support

Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support - Oxford Youth Hub
Direct Service - (OPSEU)
 Full-time, Permanent (Benefitted)

 Woodstock, Ontario (Oxford Zone)
This posting is the result of an upcoming vacancy

- Application Deadline: February 2, 2026 -

We believe that everyone has the right to access supports that will foster growth and allow them to live with dignity, and independence in our community.

The Peer Support Worker, Oxford Youth Hub will work as a member of a diverse interdisciplinary Youth Wellness Team to support youth experiencing mental health, substance use or other challenges. Peer Support involves emotional and practical support between people who share a common experience. Peers help to build equal and empathetic relationships, encouraging young people to make decisions based on their own knowledge and expertise about their own needs.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will utilize your lived/living experience of mental health and/or substance use to support youth accessing the Hub to determine their unique goals and service needs. In this role, you will provide education about navigating mental health and substance use challenges as well as where to find resources in the community to address those concerns.

Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team

WHAT WE'RE OFFERING:

• What you'll be making - Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated):
  1. Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
  2. Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated); for internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
• When you'll work – 70 hours bi-weekly, Days - rotating shifts of days/afternoons/evenings & weekends
• What your benefits will be – After a 90 day waiting period will be eligible for extended health care benefits
• Your pension plan –Immediate enrolment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

• Act in accordance with the Guiding Standards of Peer Support (comprised of Mental Health Commission of Canada's Values of Peer Support, Centre for Innovation in Peer Support's Peer Support Values in Action, Peer Support Canada's (PSC) Code of Conduct, Principles of Practice & Core Competencies)
• Engage youth and create a welcoming environment for youth accessing Hub services.
• Connect with peers on an individual basis and as a group facilitator.
• Support youth with the completion of standardized measures to help improve youth outcomes (focus on measurement-based care).
• Facilitate social and recreational activities, both within the Hub and (when relevant) community-based outings (e.g. gyms, community centres, land-based programming).
• Provide individual mentorship and coaching to youth to navigate mental health system, emphasizing self-determination and strengths-based support.
• Assist in the planning, outreach and co-facilitation of skills, activities and drop-in programming.
• Complete documentation of peer interactions and timely completion of data entry, case notes and other electronic records as required; ensuring documentation is completed in accordance with peer support documentation best practices.
• Attend team meetings as required and contribute to integrated care planning for youth.
• Actively participate in regular Peer Support supervision, and other professional practice opportunities as required/able (e.g., bi-weekly virtual Provincial Peer Network community of practice).
• Participate in community network meetings and support outreach.
• Provide virtual-based (online, phone) and in-person service.
• Participate in YWHO Provincial Community of Practice for Peer Support Worker role. Work from a harm reduction and culturally responsive approach.
• Other duties as assigned.

Team Work and Community Partnerships:

• Actively engage in learning opportunities, events, meetings, and team building activities scheduled by the organization for staff members.
• Work collaboratively and act as a resource to other staff and community partners; seek out and listen to input from others.
• Provide support and encouragement to other staff as needed (e.g. assistance with challenging peers/clients, coverage for vacation, sick time, share responsibility for work loads).
• Be supportive of, and an active participant in, the constant evolution and growth of the organization.
• Recognize limits of knowledge when discussing areas outside of the field of wellness, thereby referring to clinical expertise when needed.
• Be a resource on positive, non-stigmatizing, compassionate and hopeful language.
• Assist in addressing barriers, including procedural, systemic and structural, associated with/experienced by individuals navigating substance use, addiction, mental illness, and/or related complex issues.
• Be an active contributor to the Peer Support Program and the Oxford Youth Hub teams and related stakeholders by providing knowledge and awareness of the vital role of peer support.
• Participate in professional development opportunities as offered by both organizations.
• Maintain knowledge on local community resources and learning opportunities.
• Foster relationships with community partners.
• Promote and facilitate education and awareness of our services.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:
 

Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements
Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. Interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 2 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.
 
We require the following qualifications:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Lived experience with mental health and/or addictions
• Valid Driver's License, access to a vehicle for personal transportation
• At a place in wellness journey where you are able model wellness to peers; as well as to respond to any personal mental health/addictions concerns as they arise

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Completed peer support training, education, or certification through Peer Support Canada, PeerWorks, Support House, etc., or equivalent, an asset
• Current First Aid and CPR certification an asset
• ASIST certificate an asset
• Knowledge of mental health, addictions, and social services systems and peer rights
• Knowledge of recovery and wellness principles, trauma-and-violence-informed practices, social inclusion, and diversity
• Previous peer support experience an asset
• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; préférence sera accordée aux candidats qui sont compétents dans les deux langues officielles du Canada

INTERNAL APPLICANTS: To be considered as an internal applicant, current staff members are reminded to apply using their or email address.

Get your application in by – February 2, 2026

Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your previous work experience, your qualifications and your commitment to fulfilling our vision. While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only those individuals being considered for a position will be personally contacted by someone from the interview team. 
 

We welcome and encourage applications from all members of our community including persons of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of visible minorities. If you require accommodations related to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]  

Legal Notifications:

• For legal purposes our full business name is: Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
• Artificial Intelligence is not currently employed in our recruitment processes