Youth Peer Support Worker

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental, Health & EAP Benefits

Wellness Spending Account

RRSP Matching Program

Vacation Pay & Personal Health Days

A workplace culture that fosters learn

Job summary

CMHA Kelowna & District is hiring a Youth Peer Support Worker for Foundry Kelowna on a 12-month contract. The role runs 37.5 hours weekly, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm, with occasional extended Thursday shifts 11:00am–7:00pm.

The Youth Peer Support Worker will use lived experience to support youth navigating services, connect to resources, and provide mentoring and emotional support within a collaborative care team.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of overcoming significant life challenges and willingness to share recovery experiences.
• Criminal Record Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector.
• Ability to meet clients in the community regularly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and case management systems.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for youth.
• Establish purposeful relationships with young people and promote engagement.
• Provide guidance and mentorship, assisting youth with resource navigation and accessing services.
• Support youth in daily living activities including time management and organization.
• Accompany youth to community appointments and advocate on their behalf.
• Lead or co-facilitate group services focused on skills development and mental health recovery.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in recreational and social activities for youth.
• Maintain records and documentation, including statistics and progress reports.
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and organizational initiatives.

Skills

Lived experience

Empathy

Active listening

Advocacy skills

Conflict resolution

Education

Grade 12 education or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Case management systems

Job description

CMHA Kelowna & District is hiring aterm Youth Peer Support Worker to join the Foundry Kelowna team for 12-months.The position offers 37.5 hours per week, with a typical work week of Monday toFriday, 9:00am to 5:00pm with a monthly shift variant of extended hours onThursdays from 11:00am-7:00pm.

WHO IS A YOUTH PEER SUPPORTWORKER?

The Youth Peer SupportWorker plays a vital role in the Foundry Kelowna team, leveraging their livedexperience to create a youth-centered, low-barrier service for young peopleseeking support. This position emphasizes fostering a welcoming and inclusiveenvironment while assisting youth and young adults with service navigation,resource information, and connection to community resources. The Youth PeerSupport Worker offers peer-based mentoring, emotional support, and engages incollaborative efforts with youth and care team members.

WHAT DOES A YOUTH PEER SUPPORT WORKERDO?

• Create andmaintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for youth
• Establishpurposeful relationships with young people, promoting their engagement andparticipation in services
• Provide guidance andmentorship, assisting youth with resource navigation and accessing services
• Support youth in daily livingactivities, including time management, organization, and interpersonalcommunication
• Accompany youth to communityappointments and advocate on their behalf
• Facilitate youth engagement infocus groups, workshops, and surveys to amplify their voices and experiences
• Provide support to reduce youthdistress, improve functioning, and promote independence
• Act as aliaison between Foundry Kelowna, youth, and external support network
• Lead orco-facilitate group services focused on skills development and mental healthrecovery
• Plan,coordinate, and participate in recreational and social activities for youth
• Facilitatepeer support meetings and activities, promoting a recovery-oriented approach
• Workcollaboratively with care team members to meet established goals and objectives
• Maintainaccurate records and documentation, including statistics and progress reports
• Participatein team meetings, training sessions, and organizational initiatives
• Performsother related duties as assigned

YOUR SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Grade 12education or equivalent required
• Lived experience of overcomingsignificant life challenges, completion of (or eligibility for) recognizedyouth peer support training, and willingness to share recovery experiences
• CriminalRecord Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector
• Ability tomeet clients in the community on a frequent basis
• ValidClass 5 BC driver’s license considered an asset
• Experience working with youth/young adults with mental healthand/or substance use issues considered an asset
• Certificatesin First Aid, CPR and Naloxone considered an asset
• Ability to build rapport andmaintain therapeutic relationships with diverse youth populations
• Strong empathy and activelistening skills to foster trust and connection
• Self-awareness and capacity toapply appropriate boundaries while maintaining confidentiality
• Advocacy skills for self andothers, promoting positive change and independence
• Proficient in basic computerskills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experienceusing case management systems
• Broad knowledge of social,mental health, and substance use services in the community
• Ability to gather, process, andanalyze information to inform service delivery
• Strong problem-solving anddecision-making skills to address youth needs effectively
• Ability to observe andrecognize changes in youth behavior and communicate these to the care team
• Organizational skills to managetime effectively and maintain accountability and reliability
• Conflictresolution and crisis intervention skills
• Ability tobe regularly exposed to individuals who are struggling with and/or recoveringfrom trauma, drug/alcohol use, homelessness, mental health challenges and/ormental illness

WHO IS CMHA KELOWNA & DISTRICT?

At CMHA Kelowna & District, we arededicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, weprovide support for families and individuals through programs that promotepositive mental health and support recovery, while championing the eliminationof barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovativeand visionary organization. We are looking for someone who shares our vision ofa mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in ourcommunity by bringing their particular expertise to our organization. To learnmore, check out our website at www.cmhakelowna.org

CMHA KELOWNA & DISTRICT OFFERS YOU:

• A competitive hourly wage of $25.30
• Dental, Health & EAP Benefits
• Wellness Spending Account
• RRSP Matching Program
• Vacation Pay & Personal Health Days
• A workplace culture that fosters learning, transparency, trustand teamwork

As an employer, CMHA Kelowna & Districtstrives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals,minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of differentperspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna & District that means welcomingdiversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverseabilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, genderidentities, education, marital status, language, and physical self-expression.These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna & District does everyday.

We appreciate and thank all applicantsfor their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legallyeligible to work in Canada will be contacted.