Peer Support Worker, Mental Health Complex Intervention Response Team

Summary:

• Provide Peer-Based Emotional Support & Advocacy: Offer compassionate, non-judgmental support to patients and families based on lived/living experience, helping to navigate mental health, substance use, and systemic barriers across acute and primary care settings.
• Facilitate Access to Services & Cultural Supports: Support connections to Indigenous Wellness Liaisons, harm reduction resources, spiritual care spaces, and other community or cultural programs that align with patients’ needs and identities.
• Promote Culturally Safe, Trauma-Informed Care: Act as a bridge between patients and health care providers to encourage care that centers harm reduction, cultural humility, and person- and family-centered approaches.
• Support Peer and System-Wide Initiatives: Contribute to team meetings, strategic planning, and program improvement efforts; assist with tracking service data and helping shape peer-informed care across the organization.

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a recognized Certificate in Social Services or as an Addiction Service Worker plus one (1) year recent, related experience. Lived or living experience relevant to the client group served, such as structural inequity, interpersonal trauma, racism, trauma, substance use, poverty, sex work, and/or physical or mental health challenges. Completion of a recognized Peer Support Training program.

• Knowledge of principles of peer support practice and ability to apply principles of recovery in mental illness/substance.
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles of cultural safety and humility.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

• Competitive salary: $29.83 CAD per hour
• Comprehensive benefits: Eligible employees receive a robust medical and dental benefits package, including unlimited physiotherapy and massage, as well as paid vacation
• Unionized Stability: Enjoy the consistency and security offered by a unionized role.
• Pension plan: Eligible employees can work towards a comfortable retirement through employer-matched contributions to one of Canada's strongest pension plans!
• Meaningful impact: Your dedication and expertise will directly impact the lives of patients, including many from marginalized communities.
• Growth opportunities: We welcome individuals at all stages of their career, offering opportunities for professional development and growth.
• State-of-the-art facilities: The new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will be the most innovative approach to the delivery of integrated care in B.C. and Canada, designed to appropriately address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities. From hospital care to primary and community health solutions, the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will continue to lead innovations in care, research, and teaching. The new St. Paul’s Hospital is expected to open in 2027.
• Inclusive culture: We respect the diversity, dignity and interdependence of all persons. We value the cultural richness that our diverse workforce brings to the care of our equally diverse population of patients and residents.

• Provides day to day Peer support and advocacy from knowledge and lived/living experience to patients and families across acute and primary care services, and will liaise with existing Peers and/or Volunteers already working across PHC sites (e.g., acute care, residential services, mental health) and outpatient clinics (i.e., John Ruedy Clinic and the Rapid Access Addiction Clinic) at Providence Health Care.
• Working as an embedded team member in the Complex Intervention Response Team to support patient referrals to the Indigenous Wellness Liaisons, as well as helps facilitate patient and family access to harm reduction services, the St Paul’s Overdose Prevention Site, traditional cultural practices, All Nations Sacred Space, and as required, access to other community health programs, cultural supports, and harm reduction services.
• Acts as a resource for both patients and health care providers by providing emotional support and advocacy and supporting referrals to the Complex Intervention Response Team to ensure health provider relationships are trauma informed, person and family centered, and embedding principles of harm reduction, cultural safety and humility in the delivery of care services.
• Supports Peer initiatives at PHC by participating in working groups and meetings related to strategic planning, harm reduction, redevelopment and other organizational initiatives.
• Tracks referral and program access data utilizing word processing, email, and spreadsheets, or is willing to learn or develop these skills.
• Attends regularly scheduled meetings and provides informal updates on the Peer Support Program.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.