Peer Support Worker

The Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) team is a consult service located at the Peter Lougheed Centre, specializing in addiction medicine. The ARCH team is multi-disciplinary and comprised of Physicians, Registered Nurses, Addiction Counsellors, Social Workers, Peer Support Workers, and Pharmacists. The ARCH team provides wrap around services to patient(s) who present with active substance use concerns. The ARCH team specializes in supporting the primary care team to offer a full spectrum of services through a recovery orientated model of care, inclusive of harm reduction, low-threshold services, trauma informed care, and offering interventions to improve social determinants of health. The goal of the ARCH team, according to the grant, is to help patients start or progress on their recovery journeys through timely identification of those in need of supports, and by offering immediate access to a recovery-oriented system of care (ROSC). Reporting to the Manager of the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH), the Peer Support Worker will provide interventions and supports that are complementary to the work of the multi-interdisciplinary team with ARCH. Through their own lived experience(s) with addictions and/or mental illnesses, the Peer Support Worker supports recovery principles for clients by sharing their recovery story, offering mentorship and recovery support; advocating for client needs; and supporting an integrated and recovery-oriented treatment experience. The Peer Support Worker will also support a patient centered, needs based harm reduction approach, as required. The Peer Support Worker will provide tangible and emotional support for patients.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will provide interventions and supports that are complementary to the work of a multi-disciplinary outreach team. The team functions together to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services for the diverse needs of clients navigating life impacting experiences. Through your own lived experience(s), and experiences of recovery and resilience, as the Peer Support Worker, you can authentically inspire hope to clients by sharing your story, offering mentorship and support; advocating for client needs; and supporting an integrated and resiliency/recovery-oriented health care and treatment experience.

Please refer to the Additional Required Qualifications.

Grade 12 Education Lived experience in recovery from mental illness and/or addictions. Must be willing to share one’s personal experience of recovery. Knowledge of systemic issues such as poverty and stigma. Involvement with local/emerging community of practice and with national peer support organization is strongly encouraged. Strong interpersonal verbal and written communication skills. This position has transitioned to Recovery Alberta effective September 1, 2024. By applying on this posting, if you are the successful candidate, you agree to and will become an employee of Recovery Alberta.

Completion of a recognized peer support training program. Involvement with local/emerging community of practice and with national peer support organization. Suicide Prevention Training. Mental Health First Aid. Trauma Informed Care Training. Demonstrated time management skills with the ability to organize and prioritize competing demands. Demonstrated effective collaboration within a team environment. Understanding and application of information and communication technologies (Connect Care).