Peer Support Worker

Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system – a world where Mental Health is Health.

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The Patient and Family Experience team is currently seeking a part-time permanent Peer Support Worker to work in the Family Resource Centre. The Family Resource Centre offers resources and information to families, caregivers and friends of people with mental illness and/or addiction challenges. Reporting to the Senior Clinical Manager, Patient and Family Experience, the Peer Support Worker will provide formalized peer support to family members accessing the Family Resource Centre. This will include working one-to-one with family members as well as group facilitation. This role works collaboratively with other members of the Patient and Family Experience team, including but not limited to, connecting family members with the Patient and Family Experience Office to support with resolution of concerns as appropriate.    

You will connect directly with family/caregivers in-person and by phone/email. The Peer Support Worker will share aspects of their lived experience in a manner that is helpful to the family/caregiver they are supporting, while demonstrating compassion, understanding and hope and maintaining healthy therapeutic boundaries for themselves and the family/caregiver. The successful candidate maintains ethical and professional conduct in accordance with Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada and Peer Support Accreditation Certification Canada (effective 2014) in keeping with their respective codes of ethics and practice guidelines.

 You will collaborate with community partners, service providers and other stakeholders to help facilitate connections and referrals to other resources whenever appropriate. You will also maintain documentation in accordance with CAMH's documentation policies and will contribute to program development and continuous quality improvement initiatives. You will have a practical understanding of the experience of family/caregivers supporting a loved one with mental illness/addiction and will share that perspective with stakeholders to support the development and implementation of effective interventions/resources for family/caregivers.

This role will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable and regulatory requirements. This position may require flexibility in work hours, possibly with some evening hours. This position is located at 1025 Queen Street West.

• The successful candidate will have lived experience as a caregiver/family member of a recipient of mental health and/or addictions services.
• Have a minimum of 1-2 years' experience in a similar role (e.g. Family/Caregiver Liaison/Advocate).
• Strong understanding of the psychiatric consumer/survivor community.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills enabling you to work within a collaborative and diverse interdisciplinary team.
• Effective leadership, decision-making, organizational and problem solving skills are required. Your skills will include the ability to be flexible, self-reflective, and supportive.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic and a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment is essential.
• Experience working with clients, staff, and organizations of diverse backgrounds are required.
• Possess knowledge in the areas of group facilitation, community resources, the recovery process and the peer support role.
• Participation in training on Peer Support/Recovery would be an asset as would knowledge of Wellness Recover Action Planning (WRAP).
• Computer literacy and the willingness to learn new computer programs is required as the role will include documentation on the computer.
• Bilingualism or the ability to speak a second language is considered an asset.