Peer Support Worker

Identifying Information

Job Title: Peer Support Worker (PSW)

Program Area: Support Services

Job Level: Casual

Reports to: Peer Intake Lead

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 Peer Services Lead and/or Peer Housing Lead, Peer Support Workers PSWs are trained to offer practical 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.
• Connecting to resources and promotion of wayfinding.
• 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 Worker Fundamental Training through CMHA-ER Peer College and partake in additional trainings as needed for the Peer Support Worker role.
• Work alongside people with lived experience and deliver Practical Supports Services. Support with advocacy and wayfinding for stabilizing housing, capacity building, providing emotional support and promoting independent living.
• Provide navigation and wayfinding, social recreation, practical supports and other peer support services to a client caseload.
• Maintain responsibility of following ethical peer support practices and consultations with a supervisor when needed.
• Follow CMHA-ERs policies and procedures when engaging in peer support activities to ensure the best practices are followed.
• Participate in Peer Support Worker Team meetings where updates on support services are given and strategies for effective Peer Support are shared.
• Complete entries in service delivery logs after each participant/peer 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, and gathering stories of program participants 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 Lead through 1:1 meeting online or in person.
• Check in with program participants receiving Peer Support Services to assess and re-evaluate SMART goals, follow-up on previous meeting action items and offer support.
• Participate in peer support related working groups and community of practice.

Administration

• Ensure service delivery logs are up to date.
• Ensure time sheets, mileage/expense claims and invoices are up to date and submitted on deadline for payroll to process.
• Participate in regular team meetings as required.
• Participate in regular 1:1 meeting with Peer Intake 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.

• Experience preferably in peer support, working with individuals with lived experience of mental health challenge and/or addiction concern.
• Lived experience of mental health challenge and/or addiction concern.
• Mental Health First Aid and ASIST training is considered an asset.
• Acceptable attainment and maintenance of a Police Information Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check and an Intervention Record Check.
• Must have valid driving license.
• Strong Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical boundaries.

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.
• Ability to model healthy daily living skills by assisting with household cleaning and organization in a collaborative, peer-based manner.
• Ability to assist with moving items (up to 50 lbs) to support with household organization to foster capacity building and independent living.
• Organizational and problem-solving skills.

Required Training for the Position

• Required Atlas Training
• CMHA-ER Peer Support Worker Fundamental Training (will be provided on the job) and any other relevant Peer Support Worker Training, as deemed appropriate by the employer.
• ASIST
• Mental Health First Aid
• Naloxone Training
• First Aid