Peer Support Worker

The Alex Community Health Centre; Calgary; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alex Community Health Centre is seeking a Peer Support Worker to leverage lived experience and aid vulnerable individuals facing social and health challenges. This full-time role involves collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, offering crisis support, and advocating for clients' needs. Ideal candidates possess strong engagement skills, a commitment to peer support, and familiarity with local resources.

Benefits

3-weeks’ vacation

Medical and Dental Coverage

Health / Wellness Spending Accounts

RRSP and/or Student Loan Repayment Program

Personal Days

Floating Holiday

Sick/Wellness Days

Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)

Professional Development

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals facing health challenges, including mental health and homelessness.
• Lived experience navigating health and social care systems.
• Willingness to assist with diverse client needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate assistance and crisis support to clients.
• Collaborate with the team to deliver holistic care.
• Support clients in navigating to resources and services.

Skills

Engagement Skills

Crisis Management

Active Listening

Problem Solving

Empathy

Education

Completion of CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support course

Training in Applied Suicide Intervention

Training in Mental Health First Aid

Training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention

Training in Motivational Interviewing

Job description

Are you passionate about leveraging your lived experience with mental health, substance use, poverty, homelessness and / or food insecurity to make a meaningful impact? Do you possess the skills to bridge cultural connections and provide both immediate assistance and comprehensive guidance? If so, we encourage you to apply today and contribute your dedication and innovative ideas to The Alex, where you can help create a supportive and culturally enriching environment for our community.

What We Do

The Alex is a beacon of hope for Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens, offering wrap-around health care, housing, social, and wellness programs. With a patient and client-centered approach, we envision a community where every individual is valued and empowered to thrive. Our mission is to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services. With five decades of experience, we have earned a reputation for tackling tough health and social issues, guiding individuals on their journey from crisis to wellness, and from challenge to change.

Program Overview: The Street Team is an addiction and mental health focused outreach program that seeks to reduce barriers to services through proactive street engagement. Through the provision of harm reduction and basic needs supplies, the Street Team seeks to build relationships with street-connected individuals, facilitate access to recovery programs and services and increase community capacity to respond to opioid poisonings and crisis.

Job Overview: Reporting to the Team Lead and working collaboratively with the broader team of professionals at The Alex, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) draws upon their own lived experience to encourage and empower individuals who are living with addictions, mental health, physical health, and social complexities. The Peer Support Worker will provide immediate assistance for clients to access basic needs, and support to navigate health and social support. Additionally, this role will support programs, engage community members, and respond to critical incidents. This is a permanent, full-time position.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals to provide culturally appropriate, holistic, episodic care to vulnerable populations in our community.
• Ensure clients and professionals are welcomed promptly, appropriately, and are supported effectively.
• Provide support during crisis/emergency situations by utilizing de-escalation techniques and/or motivational interviewing skills as appropriate.
• Offer an empathetic, listening ear to clients.
• Engage in supportive conversation with clients to explore, coordinate, advocate and connect to internal and external services and resources designed to meet the clients’ needs.
• Be a creative problem solver and have the ability to think outside the box in order to help clients achieve success where they formerly have not.
• Assist clients with needs related to housing, entitlements/benefits, employment, education, and community integration.
• Provide client-centered and culturally informed services.
• Support and assist with group programming for participants and staff relevant to lived experience.
• Complete data collection and documentation with precision, adhering to agency policies and procedures.
• Support and attend client appointments on and off site.
• Maintain client confidentiality and clear boundaries.
• Represent the program and the agency in the community in a professional manner
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

What You Bring

• Completion of the CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support course considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated commitment in peer support context working with individuals with health concerns, which may include and focus on mental health, substance use, poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.
• Lived experience navigating the health and social care systems is an asset.
• Superior engagement skills and excitement for new opportunities.
• Base level computer skills.
• Comfortable working independently and as a part of a team.
• Ability to contribute to a positive work environment and team culture.
• High level of initiative and self-motivation.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• High level of self-awareness.
• Determined and committed to excellence.
• Training in any of the following is considered an asset: Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Motivational Interviewing
• Working knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, clean 3-year drivers abstract, and $2 million liability coverage are required.
• Minimum of 21 years of age and three (3) years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and child welfare intervention check are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.
  
  

Work Environment And Hours

• The Alex Community Health Centre (2840 – 2Ave SE, Calgary, AB) and outreach.
• Standard hours 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs / week).
• Continuously requires extended periods of sitting, standing and walking.
• Occasionally requires driving as part of work duties.
• Occasionally involves physical action requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (less than 20 Ibs) frequently throughout the shift.
• Occasional time outside in all weather conditions.
  
  

What We Offer

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• 3-weeks’ vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP and/or Student Loan Repayment Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development
  
  

Driving on Behalf of The Alex

This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for work-related purposes. Successful candidates must show proof of a class 5 driver's license, a personal vehicle, and a clean 3-year drivers abstract. Candidates must consent to the possibility of an annual driver's abstract review to meet our insurance provider’s requirements. Driving a fleet vehicle at The Alex requires that staff are at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three (3) years’ driving experience. Mileage will be reimbursed in alignment with the CRA guidelines

How To Apply

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Jobs at The Alex | The Alex .

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We will make every effort to accommodate candidate’s schedules and needs in all parts of the hiring process.

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

In accordance with our strategic priorities, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as racialized* or Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

• The term “racialized” is used here instead of the more outdated and inaccurate terms “racial minority, “visible minority”, “person of colour”, or “non-White”.
  
  

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website at www.thealex.ca