Peer Evaluator

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 34,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

CMHA Toronto is seeking a Peer Evaluator for the PPEP team to assess Toronto-based mental health services. You will conduct interviews and focus groups with service users, families, staff, and community partners, and observe program delivery to inform improvements.

This casual, on-site role emphasizes trauma-informed practice, equity, and respectful engagement, with an hourly rate of 30.19 CAD. You’ll contribute to evaluation design, data collection, and reporting while supporting recovery and

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a related field or equivalent combination of education and lived experience.
• Lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges and services.
• Experience in mental health, social services, peer support, research, evaluation, or advocacy.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practices.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and engage participants in service evaluations across diverse groups.
• Conduct interviews, focus groups, and observations to gather qualitative feedback.
• Foster inclusive, respectful, and accessible communication with participants.
• Organize, review, and support the analysis of qualitative data collected during evaluations.
• Contribute to the development of evaluation findings, recommendations, and reports.
• Assist with research activities, including literature reviews and environmental scans.
• Build collaborative relationships with diverse participants and stakeholders.

Skills

Interviewing

Facilitation

Qualitative methods

Active listening

Trauma-informed practices

Equity and inclusion

Education

Post-secondary education in related field

Lived experience with mental health/addiction

Job description

The Role and Opportunity

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Toronto Branch is seeking a Peer Evaluator that will be a part of the PPEP team that evaluates Toronto-based mental health services in order to inform recommendations for service improvement related to supporting recovery and wellness. Peer Evaluators will conduct interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders of a service (people using the service, their family members, staff, managers, and community partners) and directly observe service provision. PPEP evaluators also contribute to the design of the evaluation process and collectively discuss the overall findings.

Peer Evaluator – Research (Casual)

The Role and Opportunity

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Toronto Branch is seeking a Peer Evaluator that will be a part of the PPEP team that evaluates Toronto-based mental health services in order to inform recommendations for service improvement related to supporting recovery and wellness. Peer Evaluators will conduct interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders of a service (people using the service, their family members, staff, managers, and community partners) and directly observe service provision. PPEP evaluators also contribute to the design of the evaluation process and collectively discuss the overall findings.

Hourly Rate: $30.19

About CMHA Toronto

CMHA Toronto is the city's leading community mental health agency. We provide accessible, quality care for Toronto residents through programs, research and advocacy that create belonging and hope. At CMHA Toronto, we take a client-first, recovery-oriented approach to supporting people and their families when they experience mental health challenges or live with mental illness. By integrating health and social care, we provide services that aid in long-term wellness including housing, employment, community connections and so much more. Our goal? Help everyone thrive in the community.

Responsibilities

Evaluation and Data Collection

• Recruit and engage participants in service evaluations, including service users, families, employees, managers, and community partners.
• Conduct interviews, focus groups, and observations to gather qualitative feedback and insights.
• Foster meaningful participation through inclusive, respectful, and accessible communication.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Organize, review, and support the analysis of qualitative data collected through evaluation activities.
• Contribute to the development of evaluation findings, recommendations, and reports.
• Assist with research activities, including literature reviews and environmental scans.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build collaborative and trusting relationships with diverse participants and stakeholders.
• Apply empathy, active listening, and trauma-informed approaches when engaging individuals with lived experience.
• Support participants throughout the evaluation process and respond appropriately to concerns or distress.

Administration and Compliance

• Maintain accurate and confidential records related to evaluation activities.
• Ensure compliance with privacy, confidentiality, ethics, and organizational requirements.
• Support the coordination and documentation of evaluation projects.

Experience & Education Required

• Post-secondary education in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, lived experience, training, and relevant experience.
• Lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges and mental health and/or addiction services Experience in mental health, social services, peer support, research, evaluation, or advocacy.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practices.
• Ability to conduct interviews, focus groups, and engagement activities in both office and community settings.

Why Choose CMHA Toronto?

If you care about mental illness and mental health and you have the right skills, then CMHA Toronto may be the place for you. We have a positive and fair workplace culture, where staff are provided with opportunities for learning and advancement. Our benefits include:

• Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), a predictable, secure monthly income upon retirement
• Work-life balance and flexibility - to ensure you have time for the things that matter to you
• Work with like-minded, passionate individuals and make an impact on mental health service delivery
• Build genuine and authentic connections, with colleagues and clients, with the goal of making a difference

CMHA Toronto is an award-winning workplace committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, empathy, and accountability. Our staff value the flexibility in work schedules, the emphasis on work-life balance, and the organization's commitment to continuous learning through training and development opportunities. Many employees highlight the strong sense of support that make CMHA Toronto feel like more than just a workplace-it feels like a community.

As an equity-informed employer, CMHA Toronto reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from equity-deserving candidates, including Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and women. We recognize and honour the intersectionality of equity-based identities. Personal experience with mental health challenges, whether firsthand or through a loved one, is considered an asset. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please inform us before the interview if you require an accommodation.

To be eligible for this role candidates will be required to adhere to our COVID-19 policy and provide proof of vaccination.

Important Disclosure

We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of the hiring process.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

CMHA Toronto thanks all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.