Peer Support Specialist, Housing First

Agency Profile:

Our Mission: To be a recognized leader in promoting and supporting mental health in our community

Our Values: We Believe in: Equity of Access; Prevention, Early Identification and Intervention; Community Awareness through Information and Knowledge; Collaboration, Service Integration and Strategic Partnerships; Respecting Diversity; Empowerment and Inclusion; Excellence and Innovation.

Job Desription:

Housing First is an alternative to a system of emergency shelter/transitional housing progressions. Rather than moving homeless individuals through different "levels" of housing, Housing First moves the homeless individual or household immediately from the streets or homeless shelters into their own apartments. Clients will have serious mental illness that is often accompanied with substance abuse, history of involvement in the criminal justice system and chronic physical illness. A multi-disciplinary and multilingual team provides a service that is based on intensive case management and assertive outreach.

The Peer Support Specialist collaborates with consumers to provide individualized and flexible support to engage and integrate them into the community, and helps to facilitate their access to resources and supports to maximize their independence and potential, and promote their recovery.

Peer Support Specialists have gone through a process of recovery and have obtained peer support related training to assist others with mental health challenges to identify and achieve life goals as part of their own recovery. In collaboration with the Housing First team, the Peer Support Specialist uses empowerment and recovery-oriented approaches with individuals and groups to help combat stigma, raise self esteem and mastery, improve self concept, and instill hope.

In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave 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. This position reports to and is supervised by the Program Coordinator.

Requirements:

  • A degree or diploma in the health or social services, or a related discipline
  • Four years or more experience of the mental health system
  • Personal experience in recovery from a mental health and/or addiction problem
  • A second language (Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Italian, Persian, Punjabi, Korean, Tamil, Urdu) reflecting the local community is preferred.
  • Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with consumers
  • Ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with consumers, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self-care strategies designed to reduce stress by balancing work/life responsibilities
  • Knowledge of relevant mental health and health related legislation
  • 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, a minimum $1,000,000 third party liability insurance and proof that insurance covers use of personal vehicle to transport clients
  • A satisfactory and current Vulnerable Sector Screening
Publication Date: 
2014