Encompass Support Services Society is an accredited, non-profit agency that provides a wide range of programs and support services in Langley and Aldergrove for over 25 years. We help to build strong, sustainable communities by offering inclusive, accessible services tailored to meet the changing needs of the individuals and community we serve.
At Encompass, we are committed to a journey towards cultural humility and safety; for the well-being of those we serve and those we work along-side. We gratefully acknowledge that the programs, services and offices of Encompass are on the unceded, sovereign Indigenous lands of the Coast Salish People. This includes the territories of Kwantlen, Katzie, Matsqui and Semiahmoo First Nations. We also acknowledge the Métis and Inuit people who make Langley their home.
Our purpose is to strengthen the health and vitality of community by identifying and responding to community needs, collaborating to enhance the lives of those we serve, while cultivating effective and sustainable partnerships.
Our vision is to empower individuals, to connect people, and to enrich lives. We value community, integrity, excellence, accountability, dynamic leadership and culture, advocacy, diversity, empowerment and collaboration.
Programs and supports are designed to build new skills, to foster healthy, productive lifestyles and to improve access to services within our community. Services are low-barrier, all-inclusive and at no cost to participants. Annually, we provide services to over 2500 individuals and families.
The Opportunity
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 participates as a member of the Foundry centre team. Drawing on their own lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, the YPS worker helps youth and young adults with enhancing their health and wellness, service navigation, and resource information and connects them with Foundry and/or community resources. The YPS worker offers peer-based mentoring and emotional support and works collaboratively with youth, their families and members of the care team. An ability to support gender and sexually diverse youth, Indigenous youth, and youth who have experienced substance abuse would be an asset. Experience supporting racialized, neurodiverse youth and young adults with physical disabilities as a peer would also be considered an asset. This position assists with the delivery of walk-in services and outreach activities, offering support both on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting. The YPS worker acts as an advocate and role model, helping young people and their families recognize that with hope, recovery is possible.
JOB POSTING: 2024-0100 Youth Peer Support Worker – Foundry Langley
DATE: February 27, 2024
POSITION: Permanent, Part-Time
HOURS OF WORK: 20 Hours per week over three days (depending on program needs)
Including evenings and flexibility in work schedule
SALARY RANGE: CSSEA Wage Grid 10 - $26.83 – $29.76
BENEFITS: N/A
VACATION: As per ESSS policy
CLOSING: March 12, 2024 at 4 PM
ANTICIPATED START DATE: ASAP
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Plays a key role in ensuring that the centre offers a safe, welcoming, inclusive and youth-friendly environment;
2. Establishes a purposeful relationship with young people and supports their engagement and participation in centre services;
3. Maintains knowledge of community resources;
4. Provides support, guidance and mentorship for youth and their families and assists in sharing information on resources and lived experience service navigation;
5. Assists youth with the activities of daily living including time management, organization and interpersonal communication;
6. Accompanies youth to appointments in the community;
7. Develops, leads or co-facilitates group services to promote skills development and mental health and substance use recovery and relapse prevention;
8. Coordinates, participates in or assists with planning recreation and social activities;
9. Provides support to aid with reducing youth's distress, improving or maintaining functioning and enabling independence and active participation;
10. Facilitates youth engagement and participation in focus groups, workshops, surveys and related activities;
11. Works collaboratively with team members to meet pre-established goals and objectives, facilitates recovery-based peer support meetings and activities;
12. 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;
13. 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;
14. Provides culturally competent services;
15. Completes and maintains related records and documentation including statistics, progress reports and care plans, meeting agency and accreditation requirements;
16. Maintains waitlist as required;
17. Participates in team meetings, case conferences and organizational initiatives;
18. Works as a liaison between Foundry Langley, the youth accessing the centre and the Youth Peer Engagement Coordinator on the Foundry Central Office team;
19. Participates in various knowledge exchange and learning opportunities facilitated by Foundry Central Office; and
20. Performs other duties as required/assigned.
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;
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings;
• 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
• Covid-19 Vaccination Status*
In lieu of resume and cover letter – video submissions outlining your experience and qualifications accepted. Please email your video at [email protected]
*As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working at Foundry Langley must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.
At Encompass Support Services Society, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core of who we are. These principles guide us 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.