Peer Support Worker, Youth Wellness Hubs

Children's Mental Health Ontario; Toronto; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Group health benefits

Pension plan with employer matching up

Job summary

Strides Toronto is seeking a Peer Support Worker to join our Youth Wellness Hub Ontario team in a hybrid role. You will work with youth experiencing mental health and/ or substance use challenges, drawing on your lived experience to provide guidance and support.

You will help plan and participate in drop-in activities, mentor youth, and contribute to program development within an interdisciplinary team. Strong communication and advocacy are essential.

Qualifications

• Lived/living experience with mental health and/or substance use.
• Knowledge of community youth services (mental health, education, housing).
• Ability to establish professional relationships with youth in peer support.

Responsibilities

• Support youth/young adults with mental health and addictions in the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario.
• Share lived experience to educate about navigating health challenges and resources.
• Co-create a welcoming space, assist with drop-in activities, and provide one-on-one mentorship.
• Support program development and outreach activities within the hub.

Skills

Lived experience

Community resources

Interpersonal skills

IDEA awareness

Anti-racism awareness

Education

Post-secondary studies in human services

Tools

Computer & client info systems

Job description

Position Type: Full-time Permanent

Hours of Work per week: 35 hours

Salary range:$46,662.00 to $54,339.00 per annum

Benefits:We offer generous group employee benefits which includes:

• Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage, EAP, premium fully paid by organization
• Life and disability insurance
• Defined Contribution Pension plan with employer matching up to 6% based on length of service
• Generous paid time off (Vacation, Sick and Float days)
• Pregnancy/Parental leave top-up
• Hybrid work flexibility
• Access to employee perks and discounts

Union Position – This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto Support Services (“Strides Toronto”) is amulti-service agencyproviding a wide range of exceptional programs and services thatimprove the mental, social and physical health of infants, children and youthfrom the pre-natal stage to age 29, and their families. With arange of community, live-in and treatment services, we build strength and resilience through equitable, accessible, client-driven services, system leadership and advocacy. We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support. In its Lead Agency role,Strides Toronto collaborates with 24 publicly funded infant, child and youth mental health (ICYMH) core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that promote access, responsive service delivery and experience, and positive mental health outcomes for young people and families across Toronto’s diverse communities.To learn more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to visit our website atwww.stridestoronto.ca

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an existing vacancy for a full-time permanent Peer Support Worker who will work as a member of a diverse interdisciplinary team to support youth experiencing mental health, substance use and/or other challenges. Peer Support involves emotional and practical support between people who share a common experience. Peers help to build equal and empathetic relationships, encouraging young people to make decisions based on their own knowledge and expertise about their own needs.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will utilize your lived/ living experience of mental health and/or substance use to support youth accessing the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario (YWHO) to determine their unique goals and service needs. In this role, you will provide education about navigating mental health and substance use challenges, as well as where to find resources in the community to address those concerns. As part of the interdisciplinary and integrated youth wellness team, Peers contribute to program development and outreach activities related to YWHO clinical services, skills & well-being activities and community support services. Peers are also responsible for co-creating a welcoming space for youth who access Hub services, attending drop-in activities, as well as one-on-one mentorship.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Work collaboratively with the YWHO core team to provide supports to youth/ young adults as it relates to mental health and addictions.
• Speak about lived experience as it relates to addictions and mental health on an individual basis or in a group setting.
• Facilitate social and recreational activities, both within the hub and when relevant the community.
• Develop promotional materials and workshops materials for peer support group and the youth wellness hub.
• Engage in professional development activities and record accurate client information that is reflective of policy, accreditation, and ministry standards.
• Ensure accurate recording of client information in TREAT and Dacima in a timely manner.
• Assist with program evaluation activities and support the development of program reviews as required.

THE MUST HAVES

• Lived/ living experience as a young person with mental health and/ or substance use challenges, which may include experience as a recipient of mental health and/ or substance use services.
• Knowledge of community services and resources available to youth in the areas of mental health, employment, education, housing, addiction and other areas.
• Strong self-awareness, self-care practices and can establish and maintain professional relationships with youth accessing peer services.
• Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.

THE NICE TO HAVES

• Post secondary studies in a human services or social services field is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to young people accessing services from a peer perspective and can work within an interdisciplinary health care team.
• Formalized peer support work experience and experience supporting/connecting with diverse youth is an asset.
• Functional computer and client information system knowledge.
• Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.

BEFORE STARTING WITH US

• A Vulnerable Sector police check or Broad Record Check
• A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

• We provide a hybrid work model and competitive Group Health Benefits and Pension Plan.
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.

We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.