Peer Support Worker

DATE: January 8, 2025
LOCATION: Toronto, ON – TAY- Specialized Services
COMPENSATION: $23.52/hour

LOFT Community Services is a unique and dynamic charitable organization that supports people living with complicated issues such as mental and physical health challenges, substance use challenges, poverty, and homelessness. Serving approximately 19,633 annually and providing 1,861 units of supportive housing last year, LOFT is one of Ontario’s largest mental health service providers of its kind. LOFT is also recognized as a Nonprofit Employer of Choice Award (NEOC) recipient.

To help fulfill its mission, LOFT is hiring a Relief – Peer Support Worker at TAY Specialized Services.

Job Summary

The Peer Support Worker position is open to those who have lived experience with mental health and/or addiction and have gone through a process of recovery. The peer mentor is responsible to use their lived experience to assist others in the recovery process and to navigate the mental health and addiction systems. This would be accomplished through a variety of activities such as group facilitation, individual support with appointments and structured positive relationship building.

The Peer Support Worker (relief) supports the facilitation of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups. TAY provides low-barrier and accessible opportunities for youth to effectively learn emotional regulation skills following the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) framework. As a response to the increasing demand for young people to receive rapid access to treatment, the TAY program offers a closed DBT group, a weekly drop-in “Chaos to Calm” and a BIPOC DBT program called "Culture & Calm.” The peer support worker shall provide 1:1 peer support and help co-facilitate these groups for youth. The program requires availability to work evenings and Saturdays.

What You Will Do

• Accompany clients to various appointments in the community.
• Provide 1:1 peer support to youth such as appointment support/accompaniment, participation in wellness-focused and recreational activities, and search for appropriate community resources.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate groups, assist social drop-ins and peer support groups at various locations.
• Support the personal journey of each client by building rapport and helping with goal setting, problem solving, and emotional support.
• Be a positive role model and encourage others in the recovery process.
• Guide clients to make choices that promote safety, wellness, and recovery.
• Complete needed documentation and note-taking, including supporting the implementation of measurement-based care practices.
• Regularly attend supervision with manager or senior staff, group/team meetings, Peer Community of Practice and training sessions.
• Assist with office care/operations, and provide helpful information to youth and guests who visit the TAY hub.
• Help prepare and organize group spaces, including light cleaning and trash removal.
• Work in collaboration with other program staff and community partners.
• Help ensure that clients are connecting with caseworkers and caseworkers with clients.
• Contribute to program development and implementation.
• Positively contribute to the TAY program by providing back-up support for other staff and by engaging in collaborative team activities.

What You Bring:

Must Haves

• Completion of peer training and relevant trainings such as Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Mental Health First Aid, etc.
• Experience/knowledge of mental health/addictions systems.
• Solid working knowledge of recovery principles.
• Knowledge of local community mental health services including formal and informal supports.
• Understanding of harm reduction, cultural competency, and anti-oppression framework.
• Knowledge of relevant mental health legislation such as the Personal Health Information Protection Act.
• Some experience in peer support counselling, ability to draw upon wellness and recovery in providing intentional peer support.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong ability to work independently and on a team.
• Enthusiastic problem solver, positive conflict resolution and goal setting practices.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Flexible availability: weekend work and some evenings may be required with advanced notice.

Nice-to-Haves

• Knowledge/experience with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an asset.

Work Environment:

Walk up and down stairs, physically able to assist clients with daily living activities, 10%-20% travel to different locations with transit and/or own vehicle, outdoor travel, lifting objects up to 50 lbs.

What We Offer

• E-learning program available all year round.
• Corporate Gym membership rate with GoodLife Fitness.
• Access to Perkopolis, a comprehensive corporate discount program.
• Access to unlimited DEI trainings through partnership with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

LOFT Community Services is a values-driven organization with a deep belief that each person has the ability to grow and change. We value compassion, collaboration, and community delivered with dignity, innovation, and excellence. LOFT’s vision is that together, we can all live successfully in our community. Our client population reflects Ontario’s diverse community and it is LOFT’s goal to build a workforce that also reflects that diversity. LOFT believes there are many ways to develop skills and build experience and expertise. So even if you don’t “tick all the boxes” but think you’d thrive in this role, you are encouraged to apply.

Note: A satisfactory vulnerable sector check (VSC) is also required.

CLOSING DATE: January 22, 2025

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LOFT Community Services is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment and dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live and serve. LOFT is committed to making employment opportunities accessible in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Requested accommodation will be provided in all parts of the application and hiring process by contacting hrteam@loftcs.org or (416) 979-1994.