Youth Peer Worker

SQUAMISH NATION; Squamish; On-site; CAD 39,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Squamish Nation is seeking a Youth Peer Support Worker to support youth through connection, advocacy, and culturally grounded wellness. You will engage with youth via the Nexwnínlhewá7nem Ch'áwch’aw People Services on Wheels, offering practical and emotional support and navigating systems.

This role requires lived experience, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work within crisis settings while maintaining confidentiality and building trust across community partners.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Post-secondary education in social services, health, psychology, or related field is an asset.
• Peer support, recovery, or harm reduction certification is considered an asset.
• Lived or living experience related to mental health, substance use, homelessness, or navigating complex systems.
• 2-3 years of peer support, outreach, community service, or related experience.
• Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed practice, mental health, substance use, and peer support principles.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities and understanding cultural factors impacting Indigenous wellness.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based peer support grounded in lived experience.
• Build trusting relationships with youth through consistent outreach and engagement.
• Meet youth where they are at and provide practical, emotional, and wellness-focused support.
• Maintain a caseload of youth and provide regular follow-up and ongoing connection.
• Support youth in navigating health, education, social, legal, and community systems.
• Share information and connect youth to mental health, substance use, cultural, recreational, educational, and community supports.
• Advocate alongside youth to reduce barriers and improve access to services and resources.
• Provide harm reduction education, safer use information, overdose prevention resources, and naloxone awareness training.
• Respond to overdose situations and follow established crisis intervention and safety protocols.
• Conduct outreach in youth centres, community spaces, events, and locations where youth naturally gather.
• Support the planning and delivery of outreach events, wellness initiatives, and youth-focused programming.
• Collaborate with Child and Youth Mental Health, schools, youth programs, Squamish Nation departments, and community partners to strengthen referral pathways and coordinated supports.
• Maintain accurate records, case notes, program statistics, and outreach documentation.

Skills

Peer support

Outreach

Trauma-informed

Cultural safety

Communication

Documentation

Crisis response

Advocacy

Education

High school diploma

Post-secondary education asset

Job description

CASUAL POSITIONS ON THE NORTH SHORE - NORTH/WEST VANCOUVER, BC & IN SQUAMISH VALLEY, BC

Be Part of Something Meaningful

Are you passionate about supporting youth through connection, advocacy, and culturally grounded wellness services? Squamish Nation is seeking a Youth Peer Support Worker to join the Háhalhi7iwan Wellness Department within Nexwnínlhewá7nem Ch'áwch’aw People Services.

In this meaningful role, you will provide peer support and outreach services to youth through the Nexwnínlhewá7nem Ch'áwch’aw hén̓xwilhem (People Services on Wheels) initiative. Drawing on lived experience, you will build trusting relationships with youth, provide practical and emotional support, promote harm reduction, and help connect community members to wellness, cultural, health, and social services. Working alongside families, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, internal programs, and community partners, you will help foster resilience, healing, and belonging while ensuring youth feel seen, supported, and connected to their community.

What You’ll Do

Provide culturally safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based peer support grounded in lived experience.

Build trusting relationships with youth through consistent, non-judgmental outreach and engagement.

Meet youth where they are at and provide practical, emotional, and wellness-focused support.

Maintain a caseload of youth and provide regular follow-up and ongoing connection.

Support youth in navigating health, education, social, legal, and community systems.

Share information and connect youth to mental health, substance use, cultural, recreational, educational, and community supports.

Advocate alongside youth to reduce barriers and improve access to services and resources.

Provide harm reduction education, safer use information, overdose prevention resources, and naloxone awareness training.

Respond to overdose situations and follow established crisis intervention and safety protocols.

Conduct outreach in youth centres, community spaces, events, and locations where youth naturally gather.

Support the planning and delivery of outreach events, wellness initiatives, community gatherings, and youth-focused programming.

Collaborate with Child and Youth Mental Health, schools, youth programs, Squamish Nation departments, and community partners to strengthen referral pathways and coordinated supports.

Maintain accurate records, case notes, program statistics, and outreach documentation.

What We’re Looking For

High school diploma or equivalent.

Post-secondary education in social services, health, psychology, or a related field is an asset.

Peer support, recovery, or harm reduction certification is considered an asset.

Lived or living experience related to mental health, substance use, homelessness, or navigating complex systems.

2-3 years of peer support, outreach, community service, or related experience.

Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed practice, mental health, substance use, and peer support principles.

Experience working with Indigenous communities and an understanding of cultural, historical, and social factors that impact Indigenous wellness is an asset.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Demonstrated emotional intelligence, patience, professionalism, and integrity.

Ability to remain calm and effective in challenging, high‑pressure, or crisis situations.

Excellent organizational, time-management, and documentation skills.

Ability to communicate with tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.

Valid BC Class 4 or Class 5 Driver's Licence (Class 7N may be considered).

Access to a reliable vehicle and appropriate insurance coverage.

Knowledge and understanding of Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw history, culture, customs, land, and People is preferred.

Why Work With Us

• Professional Growth – We invest in our people with training, mentorship, and career development


• Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Values – Be part of an organization that values Úxwumixw (community/peoples), snew̓íyelh(guiding through teachings), wenáxws (respect) and inclusivity.

As a dynamic community organization, we understand the importance of employing enthusiastic and talented people to work together. We know that our future strength and growth is very much dependent on our key resources – our people. With a variety of programs and services, we offer career paths that fit many areas of expertise, backgrounds, and interests. Along with competitive compensation and benefits, we foster an environment that values diversity through the respect and appreciation of each person for their individual attributes.

Wage Rate: $28.00 - $32.32

Join us in building a future rooted in culture, values, and community strength. Your work matters here. #Workwithpurpose