Peer Support Specialist

Who we are:

Canadian Mental Health Association Durham is an integrated community mental health and primary care hub that has been providing mental health services to Durham Region for over 60 years.

During that time it has evolved to provide a broad range of services to individuals and their families experiencing mental health challenges from information and education to case management psychosocial rehabilitation housing and primary healthcare. These services are provided through inter-professional teams focused on providing clinically based services that in addition to dealing with client mental health issues address social determinants of health using the recovery model.

Overview of the role: This position provides peer support services to ACT clients within the Canadian Mental Health Association Durham (CMHA Durham).

Responsibilities:

• Participates as a member of a high performance multi-disciplinary team working with individuals living with severe and persistent mental illness within a variety of community settings
• Provides strengths-based and recovery oriented approaches with individuals and groups to help combat stigma promote self-determination and instill hope
• Provides consultation utilizing self-disclosure and sharing of life experience to serve as mentor and role model
• Promotes awareness and supports client participation in consumer self-help programs and advocacy organizations that promote recovery
• Facilitates recovery education and support groups including Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) from a recovery and strengths based perspective
• Assists clients to recognize and develop coping mechanisms to deal with symptoms and social stigma
• Educates staff within the team regarding the consumer perspective on the mental health system and assisting the team to maintain a client-centred approach that maximizes client participation and empowerment
• Advocates for development of consumer initiatives within the community and identifying opportunities for client empowerment
• Attends professional meetings educational conferences and designated training workshops as assigned in order to maintain up-to-date knowledge and transfer knowledge to staff within the organization
• Documents client contacts within predetermined time frame in accordance with CMHA Durham policies and procedures
• Supports and assists clients with maintaining their skills to live independently in the community and promotes safe and healthy living standards ensuring that clients basic needs of food clothing and shelter are met
• Provides support services to clients assisting with scheduled appointments arranging transportation to appointments and/or accompanying clients to appointments as necessary
• Provides assistance to clients establishing peer and family support networks
• Establishes supportive therapeutic relationship with clients and advocates for and with clients families
• Provides clients with opportunities for learning through recreation vocational and concurrent disorder activities
• Other tasks as assigned by management

Risk Management

• Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Durham Policies and Procedures identifying assessing evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of staff guests caregivers and clients

Skills you bring:

• Must be able to work from a position of lived experience as a recipient of mental health services for serious mental illness
• Peer Support certification preferred
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act Health Care Consent Act Ontario ACTT Standards social service benefits and related legislation in Ontario
• Ability to engage in participant interactions which negotiate complex boundaries of self-disclosure and appropriate working relationships
• In-depth knowledge of recovery and peer support movements
• Ability to apply recovery principles and empowerment oriented philosophies and practices
• Instructor certification in WRAP preferred
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships clients community partners and represent the agency in a professional manner at all times
• Ability to acquire and utilize community resources effectively to meet clients needs
• Flexibility to adapt to change
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work independently and in a dynamic team environment
• Ability to think critically and creatively
• Ability to manage crisis situations
• Post-secondary education is an asset
• Valid Ontario Drivers license access to a dependable vehicle in safe working order and appropriate insurance coverage
• Ability to work a variable work schedule which may include evenings and weekends as required
• Knowledge of MS Office (Word Excel PowerPoint Access and Outlook) as well as the internet

EFFORT

• Sits at a desk as well as stands and walks daily in order to perform the duties of the job.
• Concentration attentiveness and creativity required daily to attend meetings teach life skills engage with clients and caregivers prepare documents etc.
  

Working Conditions:

• Works on site in office setting as well as off-site in residential homes doctors offices shelters staff vehicle and clinical office environments
• Exposure to abusive/irate clients distractions interruptions and deadlines
• Little exposure to hazards

What we offer:

CMHA Durham is a non-profit community-based organization that believes that mental and physical health care is for everyone regardless of class race sexuality gender age faith or ability. With a flexible working model (within reasonable parameters of the program) memberships to meditation apps competitive vacation wellness time and 100% employer paid health benefits work-life balance is not only encouraged but expected. Our Monday Friday work week has 35 hours for most position and everyone gets their birthday off with pay.

Read more about us at Durham endorses the principles of workforce diversity and does not use AI algorithms or automated decision-making in the recruitment process. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please advise us if you require any level of accommodation we are here to help and support you.

Required Experience:

Manager