Foundry Port Hardy - Youth Peer Support Worker

The Youth Peer Support (YPS) Worker participates as a member of the Foundry Port Hardy team. Drawing on their own lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, the YPS worker helps youth and young adults with navigating service and connects them with Foundry and/or community resources. The YPS worker offers peer-based mentoring and emotional support and works collaboratively with youth, their families and members of the care team. This position assists with the delivery of walk-in services and offers support both on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting. The YPS worker acts as an advocate and role model, helping young people and their families recognize that with hope, recovery is possible.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

· Plays a key role in ensuring that the Centre offers a safe, welcoming, inclusive and youth-friendly environment; supports their engagement and participation in Centre services;

· Assists youth with the activities of daily living including time management, organization and interpersonal communication;

· Accompanies youth to appointments in the community;

· Coordinates, participates in or assists with planning recreation and social activities; including Peer Support groups

· Provides support to aid with reducing youth’s distress, improve or maintain functioning and enable independence and active participation;

· Facilitates youth engagement and participation in focus groups, workshops, surveys and related activities;

· Completes and maintains related records and documentation including statistics, progress reports and care plans;

· Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

· Grade 12 plus related experience working with youth and young adults with mental health and/or substance use issues or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience; and

· Lived experience of mental illness and/or substance use, completion of or eligible for completion of a recognized Youth Peer Support training program and willing to self-identify and share experience of recovery.

Skills and Abilities

· Ability to establish rapport and maintain therapeutic relationships with young people and family members;

· Empathic and compassionate, with good listening skills and creative thinking;

· Demonstrated ability to observe and recognize changes in youth and communicate those changes to others on the care team;

· Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills;

· High degree of self-awareness and capacity to apply appropriate boundaries and maintain confidentiality;

· Self-starter with a positive attitude and able to advocate for self and others;

Salary - $45,500 annually

As all Foundry centres are considered healthcare facilities and are funded by the Ministry of Health, all staff working in Foundry Centres are required to be vaccinated – this includes 2 full vaccine shots.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: From $45,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• lived: 1 year (required)

Ability to Commute:

• Port Hardy, BC (required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Port Hardy, BC: Relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person