Peer Support Worker

Why join CMHA Peel Dufferin?

Support your community. Advance your career. Fulfill your purpose.

Joining the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch means you’ll be part of something meaningful. For starters, we’re honored to have received the Canadian Non-Profit Employer of Choice Award for our efforts to help people live better. Providing support and services to those who live with mental illness and addictions, we’re committed to increasing awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to create a diverse organization that represents the communities we serve – and the people we help.

What We Offer

As a community-based agency, we’re dedicated to the mental, physical, and social health of everyone – including our team members. That’s why we’re proud to offer a total rewards package that helps our team members balance their professional and home life. You’ll also be empowered to keep learning new skills and reaching your goals – from developing a career growth plan to participating in training sessions.

 
In addition to competitive benefits like Employee Family Assistance Plan and optional extended health and dental benefits, we offer our team members some unique perks that really stand out:  

• 2 weeks accrued vacation + 1 flexible day each year
• Up to 18 sick days accrued per year
• HOOPP Pension Plan enrollment
• Ongoing professional development plus $250 (pro-rated) annual funding for continuing education and certifications
• $350 (pro-rated) annual allowance to invest in achieving your personal wellness goals
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel

We're looking for a full-time contract Peer Support Worker to join our Black Health and Social Services Hub team!

The Peer Support Worker - ACTT/EPI will provide holistic assessment and case management using a stepped care approach. They will carry an individual caseload in addition to participating in team-based decision-making and care planning.

We value the diverse experiences of Black, African and Caribbean candidates. We also recognize the importance of allyship and the critical role allies play in affecting change; we encourage these candidates to also apply.

Status: Full-time contract until May 2027, 37.5 hours per week including some evenings/weekends. Note, this posting is for an active vacancy.
Salary: $62,425.03-$73,441.21 annually. (Candidate qualifications will be considered when determining the starting salary)
Location:  This position is based out of our 19 Rutherford Rd. S., Brampton office. Due to the nature of this program, this role is on-site and/or community based.

What You Will Do:

• Conduct assessment and assist clients to develop goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating individual care plans
• Support clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy
• Assist to identify and combat negative self-talk and identify and overcome fears by sharing own techniques and strategies   
• Manage a caseload including regular re-assessments, updating risk levels and caseload reviews
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to build a client care plan and provide short-term or intensive case management as needed
• Facilitate groups as part of CMHA PD’s multi-disciplinary team, including the creation of new groups and act as a back-up facilitator 
• Refer and link clients to community resources and groups that support recovery goals
• Participate in regular staff meetings and care planning to provide the peer expertise for client care
• Contact primary care at regular intervals to report clients’ care plan and discharge summary
• Work collaboratively with other Peer Support Workers to support organizational needs (e.g., volumes across all regions)
  
• Participate in the Peer Community of Practice and other agency and community committees and workgroups as requested by manager

This posting description indicates the key responsibilities and core functions of the position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities.

What You Need to Join Our Team:

• A personal experience with mental health and/ or addiction and established recovery, as well as a willingness to share experience
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in relevant discipline (e.g., BSW, MSW, OT, RN)
• Peer certification is an asset
• Being a registered and / or regulated health professional is an asset
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in the mental health and addictions sectors with a focus on assessment, brief interventions and short term supports
• The following experience / trainings are an asset with an expectation to attend trainings as they become available:
  • Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
  • Concurrent Disorders
  • Cognitive Behavioural Skills
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Interprofessional Multi-Disciplinary Teams
  • Crisis Intervention Skills
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to effectively work with Black, African and Caribbean communities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to approach, listen, build trust, and communicate across diverse cultures and intersectionality. Willingness to continually improve understanding around cultural competence.
• Openness to operate from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and intersectional framework.
• Willingness to learn and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity, such as gender identity/expression, race/cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, disability, immigration and precarious status, family status, etc.
• Fluency in a second language, including ASL (American Sign Language) is considered an asset.
• Valid Canadian driver’s license and access to an insured automobile in good repair 
• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening (Police Check) report.
  

Deadline to apply: Thursday September 24th at 5:00PM
  

 At the Canadian Mental Health Association – Peel Dufferin Branch, we provide a wide array of community services, resources, and care for people with mental illness. In your role, you’ll not only assist people who are struggling, you’ll help them return to good health and reintegrate into the community. In everything we do, we work together to make the world a better place – one person at a time.

Apply Now and EMPOWER your career!

CMHA Peel Dufferin strives to be an equitable employer. We are committed to supporting inclusive recruitment and selection processes, work environments and a qualified workforce reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We acknowledge that removing existing barriers and preventing new barriers is required to foster dignity and independence for people of all ages, genders, cultures, and abilities. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including but not limited to, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) populations, ethno-racial communities, people with disabilities, *2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women and gender diverse people, low-income communities, those with a personal lived or living experience navigating mental health, substance use and/or addiction challenges and personal recovery and all equity-deserving groups.

*2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and a range of gender and sexual diversity categories not listed).

Accessibility Statement

When contacted by CMHA Peel Dufferin for a career opportunity, please advise the People and Culture Department of any accommodation needs that may make your experience through the recruitment process more comfortable. We are committed to working with you to meet these needs by providing reasonable accommodations, ensuring you have access to a fair and equitable process. We are continuously working to improve our accessibility practices and welcome any feedback or suggestions on how we can better accommodate candidates with accessibility needs. Should you have feedback, please email us at HRrecords@cmhapeel.ca

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment

To streamline our recruitment process, we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency, the essential review and evaluation of candidates is carried out by members of our People and Culture team. This approach ensures a personalized assessment that allows us to gain a comprehensive view of a candidate’s experience, skills and potential. AI is not used to make any decisions in our recruitment process.

Next Steps

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. We retain all applications submitted for one (1) year after the closing date of the posting for consideration in future career opportunities.