Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support - Oxford Wellness Centre

CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services; Woodstock; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community mental health organization in Woodstock is seeking an Addiction and Mental Health Worker to provide peer support to individuals facing substance use challenges. This role involves facilitating group sessions and offering personalized support based on lived experience. Ideal candidates have a strong commitment to wellness and recovery principles. The starting rate is $27.14 per hour with opportunities for grid progression. Applications are due by September 30, 2025.

Benefits

Pension plan enrollment

9% in lieu of benefits

Grid progression based on seniority

Qualifications

• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC).
• Experience in substance use treatment/rehabilitation.
• Willingness to share personal journey for peer support.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one support and group facilitation.
• Model effective coping techniques and recovery principles.
• Advocate for people engaging with support services.

Skills

Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

Ability to model wellness to peers

Experience providing formalized Peer Support

Education

Ontario Secondary School Diploma

Job description

Overview

Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support – Oxford Wellness Centre

Direct Service - (OPSEU) • Full-Time, Contract (End Date: March 31, 2026) • Two positions available

Location: Woodstock, Ontario (Oxford Zone)

Application Deadline: September 30, 2025

We believe that change is possible, for those who are concerned with their substance use and ready to explore options of support. The Peer Support Worker, Oxford Wellness Centre performs duties and responsibilities consistent with the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation, a recovery-oriented practice, and an evidence-based peer support model. This role requires special training and skill development to use lived experience and other skill sets to support others. This is a non-clinical role.

While working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the Peer Support Worker lends their expertise including lived experience of substance use and/or homelessness to support individuals in their unique journeys toward recovery. This is done in the areas of community inclusion, service engagement, and wellness promotion through individualized one-to-one support and group facilitation.

This position will provide support both on-site at the Oxford Wellness Centre or in the greater community as well as to other HART Hub sites within Oxford County, as needed. These programs provide care under the Terms & Conditions outlined by the Ministry of Health for Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub care providers.

Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!

What we’re offering

• What you'll be making - Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated):
  1. Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
  2. Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated); for internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
  3. Premiums of $2.00 will be applied for eligible Evening/Night and Weekend Shifts
• When you'll work – 70 hours biweekly; rotating days, afternoons, evenings and weekends
• Your pension plan – Immediately eligible for optional enrolment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• What your benefits will be – 9% in lieu of benefits

How you will be making a difference

Supporting People Engaging with Services:

• Act in accordance with the Guiding Standards of Peer Support (Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Values of Peer Support, Centre for Innovation in Peer Support’s Peer Support Values in Action, Peer Support Canada’s Code of Conduct, Principles of Practice & Core Competencies)
• Model effective coping techniques and positive self-help strategies based on recovery and wellness principles
• Facilitate a strengths-based approach to care that emphasizes safety, respect, hope, self-determination, and empowerment
• Facilitate social/support/life skills groups based on identified needs of peers served
• Establish and maintain supportive relationships with people engaging with Oxford Wellness Clinic and Peer Support services
• Maintain healthy boundaries within the supportive, collaborative peer working relationship
• Support a person-directed care philosophy and facilitate a trauma- and violence-informed, strengths-based approach to care that emphasizes safety, respect, hope, self-determination, and empowerment
• Selectively share lived/living experiences with people engaged with our services when this is of service to them
• Encourage people engaging with services and support them in their wellness planning and goal achievement, including relapse prevention and overdose prevention, as appropriate
• Negotiate ways to provide services that facilitate empowerment in life decisions, and resist creating dependencies
• Advocate with and, if necessary, for, people engaging with our services
• Provide reassurance and support when there are experiences of crisis or distress
• Support the exploration of choices and options with people engaging with our services, including connecting with other community and clinical services
• Encourage peer ideas and projects with sensitivity to diversity
• Use critical thinking and problem-solving in collaboration with the peer to co-create new ideas and possible actions
• Support navigation of health and social services systems, including referrals to other supports as needed
• Provide gradual support for transition/discharge planning, and ensure opportunity for peer feedback upon program exit
• Complete internal referrals and intake processes, with and for peers as needed
• Create, facilitate, and evaluate social/support/life skills groups based on identified needs and interests of peers served
• Assist peers navigating access to addiction treatment services, as needed
• Assist peers navigating access to government programs and systems (e.g., Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, child welfare, housing)
• Support external referrals to local and culturally appropriate agencies, programs and services to meet immediate needs (e.g., housing, elders, mental health supports)
• Other duties as required

Communication, Decision-Making & Supervision

• Report on the progress of peers through effective communication with other team members
• Ensure compliance with CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services policies and procedures including Code of Ethics, Conduct and Behaviour – Safe Space, Workplace Harassment, Workplace Violence, Health & Safety, Privacy & Confidentiality
• Ensure compliance with CMHA Thames Valley Addiction & Mental Health Services Peer Support Program Values as well as Limits & Boundaries
• Keep up-to-date on peer support-related topics and evidence-based practices
• Be an active participant in regular supervision and performance reviews; incorporate feedback to grow and strengthen professional practice

What you’ll need to apply

Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements

Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. PVSCs in the City of London may take about 2 weeks to process. Offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.

• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly
• Valid Driver’s licence and access to a vehicle with at least 2 million in liability insurance to occasionally transport clients
• Ontario Secondary School Diploma
• Lived experience of substance use, treatment/rehabilitation and recovery, and maintenance of recovery
• Experience providing formalized Peer Support in a staff, volunteer, and/or intern capacity
• Ability to model wellness to peers and share lived-experiences
• A willingness to share one’s own personal journey, for the purpose of assisting peers in their recovery

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Bilingual in both official languages preferred
• Completed peer support training/certification through Peer Support Canada, PeerWorks, Support House, or equivalent
• Training in wellness and recovery interventions
• Level 1 OPDI certification is an asset
• WRAP program completion or willingness to participate
• Training in SafeTALK, ASIST, or Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Mental Health First Aid
• Group Facilitation skills

Internal applicants: To be considered as an internal applicant, current staff members should apply using their @cmhatv.ca or @slwar.ca email address.

Get your application in by – September 30, 2025

Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your work experience, qualifications and commitment to our vision. Only those being considered for a position will be contacted by the interview team.

We welcome applications from all community members including diverse gender identities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and visible minorities. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail]

Legal Notifications: For legal purposes our full business name is: Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services. Artificial Intelligence is not currently employed in our recruitment processes.