Peer Support Specialist

Please note: Only Canadian Citizens, legal residents or residents with a legal work permit will be considered.

STATUS: Full-time Temporary – End date April 30, 2026, or until return of incumbent HOURS OF WORK: Rotating days, 08:30-19:30 Monday to Sunday.

SALARY: $31.56 – $33.28

LOCATION: Hope to Health (H2H) Supervised Consumption Site, BC Centre for Excellence – 611 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC.

ORGANIZATION: The BC-CfE is a world-renowned HIV/AIDS Centre with innovative, low barrier approach to healthcare delivery in clinical practice and an integrated group of research concentrations in Laboratory Sciences, Clinical Trials, Population Health and Epidemiology, Health Economics and Professional Education Programs. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians including Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers and Peers and researchers including Health Economists, Epidemiologists, Clinical Researchers, Statisticians, Programmers, and Data Analysts work collaboratively to improve the health of British Columbians with HIV and communities facing socioeconomic barriers in accessing healthcare.

JOB:

Reporting to the Clinical Operations Manager, the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) assists clients in supervised consumption as part of harm reduction. The PSS shares their own consumer knowledge and lived experience of mental illness/substance use and experience to assist in navigating clinical services to reduce barriers to care and support engagement and attachment. The PSS collaborates with the client and the H2H health care team to determine appropriate care to meet individual needs and situational requirements. The PSS provides clients with education, goal setting, support and advocacy from a lived experience perspective in order to assist clients in effectively obtaining service from the team staff, external service providers and community resources. Provides a variety of supports to assist clients living with mental illness / substance use such as emotional and social supports, health care navigation, goal setting, information, resources, and demonstrations. The PSS participates in care planning, team meetings, quality initiatives and continuing education by sharing and discussing information, presenting material and suggesting changes to policies and procedure. The PSS brings the voice of lived experience to conversations about clients, programs and systems. The PSS has a willingness to be identified as a peer in the areas of mental health and/or substance use and/or homelessness and the ability to use that recovery experience and recovery principles as a practice.

The PSS also performs service coordination duties, maintaining oversight to ensure that client's self-identified goals for recovery and attachment and retention to healthcare are supported by appropriate services and practices, consistent with the values of selfdetermination/choice and harm reduction. Working in collaboration with the other members of the health care team, the PSS helps coordinate the flow of clients through the supervised consumption site. Services are provided primarily in the supervised consumption site but may include accompaniment to appointments and outreach work. The PSS will receive training (harm reduction, psychosocial, EMR, Aboriginal cultural safety) alongside team members with other specializations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build peer-specific relationships with clients and provide consistent and proactive engagement
• Supervises client consumption of iOAT and illicit substances
• Assist in nurse led response to overdoses
• As part of the care plan, assist clients with accessing health and social services
• Accompany clients to appointments and schedule follow up appointments as needed
• Liaise with interprofessional health care team for support and communicate outcomes
• Participate in events relevant to client goals and community engagement
• Participate in internal and multi-stakeholder groups pertaining to peer work and areas of lived experience expertise
• Provide clients with education re: their consumer rights and grievance procedures within the larger health care system and with other community providers and services
• Provides individual and group support for clients re: empowerment, self-help education, practical information, resources, life skills, demonstrations
• Assist clients with community integration activities, and escort clients to appointments as per health care team planning and collaboration with the client
• Assist with creating an effective and supportive connection between community service providers and Hope to Health. Advocates for clients as needed
• Provide ongoing education to Hope to Health team members regarding the experience of individuals with lived experience in marginalized communities (including mental health conditions, substance use experiences and incarceration)
• In collaboration with team members, identify client goals to develop a care plan
• Assists with de-escalating situations and calls in outside resources as needed
• Use appropriate databases and electronic charting systems to add updates to client files, book appointments and add to calendar
• Has baseline knowledge of clinic protocols and mandate and can relay this messaging to community and clients and improve client access to and understanding of care
• Participates in the Client Engagement Committee with other Peers, clients and community members
• Support research activities and quality improvement work when appropriate
• Perform related work as assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

3.1 Education, Training and Experience

• A Diploma in community social services
• Two years of recent, related work experience with an emphasis on mental health, addictions, homelessness and/or social services, including one year of service planning experience, and experience in a peer support training program
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Class 5 Drivers License preferred

3.2 Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of primary health care and care provision by an interprofessional team.
• Knowledge of principles of community integration for people living with mental illness and other barriers to health care
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness and problematic substance use
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and activities
• Basic knowledge of diagnoses, treatment and support resources in the areas of mental illness, substance use, physical health, including HIV and Hepatitis C.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology and OAT
• Basic knowledge of counseling skills, including motivational interviewing principles
• Basic knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care
• Basic knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to client, including income assistance programs and housing policies
• Demonstrated understanding of oppression and marginalization, specifically as related to people with experience of a mental illness, addiction, or homelessness.
• Ability to be a role model to people recovering from a mental illness/substance use disorders by sharing common life and rehabilitation experiences and practical information
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a downtown environment and be flexible and creative in providing services
• Ability to identify and work to increase client strengths, including the use of hope inducing strategies and assisting the client in self-managing their illness and other aspects of their life
• Ability to outreach clients via public transit or walking on foot
• Ability to commit to service partnerships and build relationships by providing assistance and support
• Ability to effectively and safely resolve crisis situations
• Ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a co-operative approach to problematic client actions and choices; problem solving within a transdisciplinary setting
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a transdisciplinary team
• Ability to establish workload priorities, adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and deal effectively with conflict situations
• Ability to provide consultation and leadership to other Hope to Health team members
• Ability to operate office equipment including computers
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Please include in your letter of submission:

• Resume and cover letter

CONTACT:

Human Resources Coordinator;

Note: Only candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted.