Casual/On-Call Peer Support Worker

salvationarmyca; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army is seeking a Peer Support Worker for our Vancouver area programs. You will provide direct client contact, support during afterhours coverage, and help with step-work groups in a residential setting.

You will coordinate with treatment staff, maintain confidentiality, document interactions, and assist with program administration while upholding the organization’s values in a downtown Vancouver context.

Qualifications

• Experience in residential program settings preferred.
• Ability to work afterhours and ensure client confidentiality.
• Familiarity with 12-step programs and addiction recovery.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Support clients outside regular hours and facilitate step-work groups.
• Provide direct client contact and orientation to new clients.
• Assist counsellors with follow-ups and safety checks.
• Maintain ethical relationships with clients and staff per TSA policies.
• Administer evening medications and document activities.

Skills

Clientele relations

Group facilitation

Documentation

Afterhours support

Interpersonal communication

Job description

Who We Are

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description

POSITION PURPOSE SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Treatment Program Manager, the Peer Support Worker is responsible for the following areas: clientele relations outside of regular office hours, Step-work group facilitating, direct client contact and administrative co-operation. Detailed descriptions of the work are included under Accountabilities below. This Position Description will form the basis for the employees' annual performance evaluation conducted by the Treatment Program Manager.

Accountabilities:

Clientele Relations

• Monitors the activities of the clients/residents and maintains availability for personal, practical and moral support
• Ensure that the client becomes acclimatized to his new environment, is aware of all rules and gains confidence in the staff
• Provide client orientation reviewing the New Client Handbook; facilitate training around chores
• Attend in-house 12-step meetings, including Alumni Meeting
• Assist in Afterhours Intake Procedures
• Support Counsellors with follow-up on clients where there is a direct concern about clients mental health and/or well-being e.g. hourly checks, follow-up check-in's, UA
• Provide and facilitate a weekly Step-Work Group to support clients with their step work required in the Treatment Program
• Administer evening medications
• Report any concerning or suspicious behaviour to Treatment Program Management and Primary Counsellor of clients' involved
• Holds clients accountable to the principles of recovery
• Acts as a role model to clients by following their own program of recovery
• Ensure that confidentiality of all information regarding clients is maintained. Have knowledge of the "Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act"
• Ensure that assistance is given to the client in accessing any outside resources (12-step meetings, SMART Recovery Meetings, Recovery based events)
• Inform and remind clients when there are infractions of the rules and ensure the infractions are reported to the client's counsellor and Treatment Program Manager
• Participate in the yearly client focused events, including but not limited to, Client Christmas Party (usually early December) and summer baseball tournament(s)
• Ensure that clients are aware of the client grievance procedure available to them.

Direct Client Contact:

• Ensure that visual contact is made with each client during each shift and to check-in with each client during their assigned block of shifts. All check-ins are to be documented.
• Must be available for unscheduled meetings with clients.
• Documentation is an essential in dealing with clients in the stabilization unit and treatment program.

Administrative & Inter-departmental Co-operation:

• Maintains respectful & ethical relationships with clients and colleagues, in accordance with TSA policies and professional standards
• Maintains a current knowledge of and complies with all facility policies and procedures. This would include, but is not exclusive to, The Salvation Army Standards & Review procedures.
• Works closely with and co-operates in a courteous, respectful manner with other staff, volunteers, visitors & clients.
• Ensure that information, even of a confidential nature, is passed on to the Director of Residential Programs, Treatment Program Manager, Treatment Assistant Manager or Clinical Supervisor if it might endanger or seriously affect another person or the safety of the building.
• Ensure that all legitimate requests to assist by colleagues is considered and acted upon.
• Ensure that requests to Counsellors and Addiction Support Workers by individuals or outside agencies for information or presentation on Harbour Light are communicated to the Treatment Program Manager or Director of Residential Programs
• May participate in seasonal client/program activities, e.g. client Christmas party, seasonal activities on-site or off-site

This role may perform other duties and other accountabilities as required.

Working Conditions:

Candidates must be comfortable with working in Vancouver's downtown eastside and in a multi-program facility. Our progra