We are seeking someone who wants to make a difference and has a passion for supporting young people who have experienced difficulties with coping, or who are working to manage mental health or substance use concerns. A good fit for our agency is a self-directed, engaging and empathetic person with lived or living experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges. We are looking for someone who can relate to youth as a peer, work independently yet also interface well with our integrated multi-disciplinary team and the Program Lead/Coordinator who oversees the program.

Foundry is removing barriers and increasing access to health and wellness services for young people aged 12–24 and their caregivers through a network of youth-friendly centers across British Columbia and online. By offering integrated mental health care, substance use services, primary and sexual health care, youth and family peer support and social services, Foundry makes it easier for young people to find support in their communities. Online resources and first-of-its-kind virtual care further broaden Foundry's reach.

The Youth Peer Support (YPS) Worker is a key member of the Foundry centre team. The YPS worker offers peer-based mentoring and emotional support and works collaboratively with youth, their families and members of the care team. By utilizing their own lived experience, the YPS worker helps youth and young adults to enhance their health and wellness through service navigation, providing resource information and connecting them with Foundry and/or community resources.

This position supports the planning, deliverance and safety of walk-in, social and outreach programming by offering support to youth and young adults in group and one on one.

JOB POSTING: 2024-0200 Youth Peer Support Worker – Foundry Langley
DATE: November 15, 2024
POSITION: Permanent, Full -Time
HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 Hours per week
Including evenings and flexibility in work schedule
SALARY RANGE: CSSEA Wage Grid 10: $26.83 - $29.76 hourly
BENEFITS: Extended Health/Dental; Group TFSA/RRSP
VACATION: As per ESSS policy
CLOSING: November 29, 2024
ANTICIPATED START DATE: ASAP

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Plays a key role in ensuring that the centre offers a safe, welcoming, inclusive and youth-friendly environment;
• Establishes a purposeful relationship with young people and supports their engagement and participation in centre services;
• Maintains knowledge of community resources;
• Provides support, guidance and mentorship for youth and their families and assists in sharing information on resources and lived experience service navigation;
• Facilitates support for youth with the activities of daily living including time management, organization and interpersonal communication;
• Accompanies youth to appointments in the community;
• Develops, leads or co-facilitates group services to promote skills development and mental health and substance use recovery and relapse prevention;
• Coordinates, participates in or assists with planning recreation and social activities;
• Provides support to aid with reducing youth's distress, improving or maintaining functioning and enabling independence and active participation;
• Facilitates youth engagement and participation in focus groups, workshops, surveys and related activities;
• Works collaboratively with team members to meet pre-established goals and objectives, facilitates recovery-based peer support meetings and activities;
• Works collaboratively with centre staff, community and hospital-based teams to build relationships between youth, families and systems to enhance the awareness of youth and family needs;
• May participate in staff training sessions, public education forums, seminars and conferences relevant to specific program areas. May engage in prevention activities by networking, consultation, public relations as required;
• Provides culturally competent services;
• Completes and maintains related records and documentation including statistics, progress reports and care plans, meeting agency and accreditation requirements;
• Maintains waitlist as required;
• Participates in team meetings, case conferences and organizational initiatives;
• Works as a liaison between Foundry Langley, the youth accessing the centre and the Youth Peer Engagement Coordinator on the Foundry Central Office team;
• Participates in various knowledge exchange and learning opportunities facilitated by Foundry Central Office;

Qualifications:
1. Education and Knowledge
• Grade 12 plus related experience working with youth and young adults with mental health and/or substance use issues or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience;
• Post-secondary education in a related discipline considered an asset; and

2. Training and Experience
• Lived experience of mental illness and/or substance use, gender diverse, completion of or eligible for completion of a recognized youth peer support training program and willing to self-identify and share experience of recovery.
• Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based services and related provincial and community support service systems considered an asset.

3. Skills and Abilities
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain therapeutic relationships with young people and family members;
• Knowledge of peer support practices and recovery;
• Empathic and compassionate, with good listening skills and creative thinking; and willingness to share one's own story to facilitate and support recover;
• Demonstrated ability to observe and recognize changes in youth and communicate those changes to others on the care team;
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills;
• High degree of self-awareness and capacity to apply appropriate boundaries and maintain confidentiality;
• Broad knowledge of social, mental health and substance use services available in the community;
• Knowledge of systemic issues and risk factors facing minority groups including 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous youth and young adults;
• Knowledge and respect of the diversity of the BC population;
• Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills, ability to gather and process information to support the organization and its team;
• Well-developed communication skills, ability to speak, listen and write clearly, thoroughly and professionally;
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, accountability, reliability and punctuality;
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of trauma-informed and culturally safe principles of care;
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant Acts, pertinent regulations, policy, procedures and other statutory and certification requirements (such as the Mental Health Act; Adult Guardianship Act; Child, Family and Community Service Act; and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act);
• Effective listening and consensus building skills that promote communication and a cooperative approach to problem solving and decision making;
• Ability to work effectively with other in a multicultural environment, independently and as apart of an interdisciplinary team; including understanding the frameworks of other disciplines;
• Ability to maintain professional integrity, boundaries, and confidentiality;
• Ability to make effective referrals in a collaborative manner, reflecting in-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with other community partners.

4. Other Information
• Preference of a valid BC class 5 Driver's license, have a reliable vehicle, business insurance and drivers abstract review. (mileage paid for work use)
• Police Information Check
• Current First Aid certification required

At Encompass Support Services Society, we have prioritized equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to embed these principles in our programs and services and in fostering an environment of dignity, respect, and belonging. We encourage applications from persons with historical and/or current barriers to equity, who will work respectfully within our inclusive organization and diverse community.

In lieu of a resume and cover letter, applicants are welcomed to submit a video application. Please email your video at [email protected] and include the following information:

• Introduction and educational background: Introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your educational background and why you're applying for the role.
• Work experience: Please describe your previous/current role and responsibilities and how it is relevant to this position
• Skills and Abilities: What specific skills or strengths do you bring to this role?
• Do you a valid class 5 driver's license and use of a reliable vehicle