Identifying Information

Job Title: Peer Support Worker (PSW)

Program Area: Individual and Family Supports Program (IFSP)

Job Level: Part time casual

Reports to: Peer Services Team Lead

Total Vacancies: 4

Organization Summary

CMHA-Edmonton is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that all people experience good mental health and well-being. We increase awareness and understanding of mental health, mental illness, recovery, and suicide prevention through education. We support the resilience and recovery of people in distress including those affected by mental illness or suicide by providing crisis intervention; safe, long-term and affordable housing; peer support; suicide grief and family support; information and referral support; and providing opportunities to improve your wellness.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Navigation and Advocacy Team Lead, Peer Support Workers PSWs are trained to offer peer supports to people with lived experience of a mental health challenge and/or addictions concern. Peer Support Workers encourage the growth and development of skills for independent living to their peers with lived experience through:

• Supportive and active listening.
• Sharing stories of lived experience when they believe it might benefit a peer.
• Model the way through positive recovery-based living.
• Teaching and demonstrating skills.
• Respecting boundaries.
• Assisting with daily living needs.
• Positive relationships with peers.
• Strategizing solutions to problems and issues.
• Building recovery strengths.
• Promoting wellness.
• Creating adaptive resiliency.

Peer Support Worker Values

• PSWs demonstrate empathy, connection, hope, inclusion, and respect as they nurture peer-to-peer strengths-based relationships.
• PSWs encourage their peers to explore, discover, and choose their own paths of recovery, wellness, and resilience.
• PSWs model the way, when they make choices that they feel are in their own best interest.
• PSWs face challenges, learn from challenges, and move on.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Peer Support Services

• Study and complete Peer Support Training through CMHA-ER Peer College.
• Work alongside people with lived experience and deliver Peer Support Services for independent living.
• Provide navigation and wayfinding, social recreation, and other peer support services to a client caseload of 10 12 program participants at a given time.
• Participate in weekly Peer Support Worker team meetings where updates on support services are given and strategies for successful independent living are shared.
• Complete entries in service delivery logs after each tenant visit.
• Ensure Peer Support Worker service delivery logs and time sheets are turned in on deadline.
• Implement evaluation plan including:
• delivering pre and post program participant service experience surveys,
• collecting quantitative data for the project database,
• gathering stories of program participant lived experience for project quality assurance,
• sharing stories of Peer Support Worker lived experience for project quality assurance,
• participating in program participant and Peer Support Worker focus groups,
• performing end of service evaluations with program participants.
• Meet regularly with the Peer Services Team Lead through one-on-one meetings online or in person.
• Check in with program participants receiving Peer Support Services to see how its going.
• Participate in peer support related working groups and community of practice.

Administration

• Ensure service delivery logs are up to date.
• Ensure time sheets and invoices are up to date and submitted on deadline for payroll to process.
• Participate in regular team meetings as required.
• Participate in regular one-on-one meetings with Peer Services Team Lead in person or online.
• Recommend policy and procedure changes and updates to improve program performance.
• Identify and support quality improvement initiatives through data, observation and feedback received from staff and program participants people with lived experience.

Qualifications/Experience

CMHA-ER recognizes that candidates all have different skills and experiences to offer. While we are highlighting desired qualifications in the following sections, it is not a checklist. We encourage everyone interested to apply and indicate how you would successfully take on the role even if you have unconventional experiences or qualifications.

• Peer support experience, preferably working with individuals with lived experience of mental health challenge and/or addiction concern.
• Personal lived experience of mental health challenge and/or addiction concern.
• Mental Health First Aid and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) are considered an asset.
• Acceptable attainment and maintenance of a Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Knowledge and skills of advocacy, empowerment, and strength-based principles.
• Ability to work independently in a challenging environment, set priorities, meet deadlines, and allocate time and resources effectively.
• Organizational and problem-solving skills.

Required Training for the Position

CMHA-ER Peer College Peer Support Training and Systems Navigation Training will be provided on the job