Peer Support Worker

Alberta Health Services; Grande Prairie; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for a compassionate Peer Support Worker to join their Narcotics Transition Services team. In this role, you will provide essential support to individuals facing severe opioid addiction, drawing from your own lived experiences to inspire hope and facilitate recovery. You will work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, focusing on harm reduction and helping clients navigate their recovery journeys. This position offers a competitive salary and a unique Remote Retention Allowance, making it an attractive opportunity for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.

Benefits

Remote Retention Allowance

Flexible shift patterns

Vehicle provided

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience with marginalized populations required.
• Must have lived experience with addictions and/or mental health.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and social support to individuals seeking services.
• Advocate for clients and facilitate team collaboration.

Skills

Lived experience with addictions

Harm reduction principles

Advocacy skills

Cultural and gender diversity awareness

Boundary maintenance

Education

Completion of grade 12 or equivalent

Job description

Your Opportunity:

We are seeking a caring and strength-based professional to join our Narcotics Transition Services team. Our team provides holistic support to help people with severe opioid addiction. We offer patient and family centered treatment plans to manage severe addictions. The Narcotics Transition Service offers an alternative to those who have not been able to initiate or stabilize on conventional treatment medications within our Opioid Dependency Program. Our focus on quality of life reflects our understanding that recovery is a personal journey. Through your own lived experience(s) with addiction and/or mental illness(s), poverty (including homelessness) and experiences of recovery and resilience, you can authentically inspire hope and demonstrate the possibility of recovery. As a Personal Support Worker, you will provide interventions and supports that complement the work of Addiction & Mental Health clinicians by providing emotional and social support to individuals seeking services. Your focus will be on harm reduction and supporting individuals in achieving their personal goals. Unconditional positive regard for cultural and gender diversity and supporting peers/clients in accessing services that are of meaning and assistance to their recovery is essential. You will ensure that peer/clients are connected with resources, help them understand services and gain knowledge about their rights & responsibilities. You will also advocate for the peer/clients, actively facilitate team collaboration, and engage with community partners to enhance peer/client health outcomes. In addition to a competitive rate of pay, AHS currently has a Remote Retention Allowance in place to an annual maximum of $3,000. This allowance is non-pensionable and is payable on an hourly basis for all hours paid at the basic rate of pay.

Description:

As a Peer Support Worker, you will provide interventions and supports that are complementary to the work of a multi-disciplinary outreach team. The team functions together to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services for the diverse needs of clients navigating life impacting experiences. Through your own lived experience(s), and experiences of recovery and resilience, as the Peer Support Worker, you can authentically inspire hope to clients by sharing your story, offering mentorship and support; advocating for client needs; and supporting an integrated and resiliency/recovery-oriented health care and treatment experience.

Classification: Peer Support Worker
Union: AUPE GSS
Unit and Program: Narcotics Transition Services/Opioid Dependency Program
Primary Location: Grande Prairie Northern Add Ct
Location Details: As Per Location
Multi-Site: Not Applicable
FTE: 0.00
Posting End Date: 29-APR-2025
Employee Class: Casual/Relief
Date Available: 09-MAY-2025
Hours per Shift: Varies
Length of Shift in weeks: Varies
Shifts per cycle: Varies
Shift Pattern: Days, Evenings, Weekends
Days Off: Other
Minimum Salary: $24.92
Maximum Salary: $27.46
Vehicle Requirement: Driver's License, Vehicle Provided

Required Qualifications:
Please Refer To The Additional Required Qualifications.

Additional Required Qualifications:
Completion of grade 12 or equivalent. Minimum two years’ experience working with diverse and marginalized populations, particularly the homeless (work or volunteer). Lived experience with addictions, homelessness and/or mental health illness (must identify in cover letter). Must be willing to share one’s personal experience(s). Established ability to maintain healthy boundaries is necessary. Knowledge and experience of the principles and practice of harm reduction. Lived experience of poverty, experience living in recovery from an addiction and/or a mental health condition. Knowledge of systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, stigma, medications and the isolation felt by individuals with serious addiction/mental health issues and their families. Involvement with local/emerging community of practice and with national peer support organization is strongly encouraged.

Preferred Qualifications:
Completion of a recognized peer support training program. Experience in a health care setting or a human services field outside of health care. Mindfulness about cultural and gender diversity and positive regard towards clients. Experience with multi cultural recovery pathways. Knowledge of an Indigenous language & culture. Knowledge of systemic issues such as poverty and stigma. Non-violent crisis intervention. Mental Health First Aid. Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Healthcare Provider.