Peer Support Worker - 1.0 FTE - DESIGNATED - The Overlook (External)

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

North End Community Health Centre seeks a Peer Support Worker to engage participants with lived experience, provide daily support and group programming, and connect tenants to community resources.

You will work in a harm reduction setting, fostering autonomy, trust, and recovery through collaborative, person-centered approaches across housing and community locations.

Qualifications

• Experience with mental health and substance use support systems and services.
• 1-2 years’ experience in a community setting with people who use substances and mental health challenges.
• Open to individuals with lived experience of homelessness and substance use with 24 months recovery.
• Ethical conduct, strong communication and teamwork skills, collaborative mindset.
• Strong knowledge of harm reduction principles and approaches.
• Adaptability, time management, problem-solving, judgment, and boundaries.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate self-care.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily support, programming/groups, and mentoring to participants.
• Collaborate with participants to offer individualized and flexible support and help access resources and services.

Skills

Mental health support

Substance use awareness

Communication

Teamwork

Harm reduction

Adaptability

Time management

Interpersonal relations

Confidentiality

Education

Experience in community setting

Ability to observe boundaries

Vulnerable Sector Screening

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

*The North End Community Health Centre is committed to being an inclusive organization. To ensure our organization represents the diverse people and communities we serve, this position is designated for individuals who identify as African Nova Scotian and/or people of African Descent.

Job Purpose:

The Overlook is a harm reduction, supported housing project run in partnership between the North End Community Health Centre and the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia. The building hosts 65 tenants, offering 24/7 support by the Harm Reduction Housing Team, offering on-demand harm reduction support and safer supplies. There is an on-site nurse-led clinic, on-site Dispensary, peer- support, and harm reduction counselling. There are connections to our Harm Reduction Programs offered to support such as Safe Supply, and Managed Alcohol Program support workers. The Overlook team values diversity and proactively seeks ways to incorporate a collaborative community approach.

The Peer Support Worker strives to connect with participants/tenants through shared experience in ways that strengthen hope, reduce power imbalances, and provide social support for those who may be experiencing challenges in their unique journeys. Peer support also aims to maximize independence, and potential and promote recovery. The Peer Support Worker will bring their lived experience and expertise to the work. The peer support worker will provide daily support, programming/groups, and mentoring to participants in various housing and community locations. They will collaborate with participants to provide individualized and flexible support to engage and integrate them into the community and help facilitate their access to resources and support

Education and Experience:

• Experience with the mental health and substance use (alcohol and drugs) support systems and services.
• 1-2 years’ experience working in a community setting with community members who use substances, have mental health challenges, and/or other vulnerabilities.
• This position is open to Persons with Living/Lived Experiences with homelessness and substance use, and has gone through the process of at least 24 months of recovery.
• The person can act ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision‑making and in building relationships.
• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles and approaches
• Strong skills related to adaptability, time management, problem‑solving, judgment, communication, interpersonal relations, and healthy boundaries.
• Values diversity with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with participants, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self‑care strategies designed to reduce stress by balancing work/life responsibilities.
• Extensive knowledge of supports and services in the community, including formal and informal resources.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• A valid Canadian driver’s license and the use of a personal vehicle to transport clients is an asset.
• A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening.