Description
Integrated Child & Youth Peer Support Worker
Wage $26.49 per hour
This is a temporary position
Il stl’i kw’els spipetstexw kw’eset ite xwelmexwelh stexwlaq temexws ye Stó:lo mestiyexw.
Mission Public School District is located on the Traditional, Ancestral, Unsurrendered, and Shared territories of Stó:lo people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial.
Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lo ancestors. The place from where Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect) originates is Leq’á:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial.
Le Conseil scolaire de Mission est situé sur les terres traditionnelles, ancestrales, non cédées et partagées du peuple Stó:lo, des Premières nations, Leq'á:mel, Sema:th, Matheqwí, Sq'éwlets et Qwó:ltl'el, peuples de cette terre depuis des temps immémoriaux.
Mission Public Schools is dedicated to providing our students with an educational environment that nurtures the development of an Educated Citizen. Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley, Mission is a vibrant and diverse community with over 6200 students and 850 employees. We are committed to providing a safe, equitable, and inclusive educational system for all students in our thirteen urban and rural elementary schools, two middle schools, one secondary school, distributed learning centre, alternative learning centre, and vocational and technical college.
Please note, this is a temporary position that will conclude upon return of the incumbent.
Summary
Reporting to the ICY Clinical Counsellor the Youth Peer Support worker participates as a core ICY team member. Drawing on their own lived experience, the Youth Peer Support worker offers peer-based mentoring and emotional support, and works collaboratively with youth, their families, and members of the care team. The job requires the application of established methods or procedures and may involve a choice of methods in the decision-making process. The Youth Peer Support worker acts as a role model and helps young people and their families work towards their self-identified goals by supporting them with systems navigation and to connecting them with resources on ICY teams and in the community.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Provide peer-based mentoring and emotional support to youth ages 12-19 with the following:
establishing a purposeful relationship based on respect with youth and their families and friends by encouraging informed decision-making and helping to create a non-judgmental environment by sharing experiences and insights;
Provide support that aligns with ICY practice principles: culturally safe, trauma-informed, child/youth/family-centered, Nation/community-centered, and inclusive of youth who identify as part of the LGBTQ2S+ community;
supporting youths’ recovery through selective motivational and supportive self-disclosure including the sharing of personal recovery experiences and strategies for attaining and maintaining wellness;
encouraging and supporting youth to become active and involved in their own health, promoting youth participation in activities, and encouraging membership in the school community;
advocating for youth and accompanying youth to appointments when requested;
supporting systems navigation and resource distribution to youth;
facilitating or co-facilitating groups for children, youth and families as needed;
Work in an integrated way within a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with organizational, community, and hospital-based teams
Access supervision to support regular consultation, learning and reflections as applied to the role of Youth Peer Support worker
Participate in integrated care planning conferences, team meetings, case reviews, and organizational initiatives as required
Participate in training opportunities through the ICY team and employer organization, and in evaluation, quality improvement and research activities as required
Complete and maintain related records and documentation pertaining to the organization and ICY teams
Facilitate youth engagement and participation in focus groups, workshops, surveys, and related activities
Team Responsibilities:
Teams use a collaborative planning process and a common care plan for each child or youth, developed with a family/caregiver-centered approach, with consideration of the child/youth’s voice
Teams work closely with schools and primary care to help with the early identification of children and youth who may need support and assist them to access services
Team practice will be informed by key principles including cultural safety and humility, trauma-informed care and family-centered care
Team members bring expertise and related experience and will provide a range of services including assessment and screening, consultation, and therapeutic services
Teams adjust service intensity to meet the specific needs of children and youth
Teams connect children, youth and families to higher intensity and more specialized services and supports or help transition young adults to adult services and supports when needed
Team hours of operation will be flexible and responsive to meet the needs of the community
Required Qualifications:
Grade 12 Graduation
Preferred Qualifications:
Completion or near completion of the BC Campus Provincial Peer Training Curriculum.
Required Experience:
One (1) month of 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
Lived understanding of mental illness and/or substance use, completion of/eligible for completion of a recognized youth peer support-training program
Lived experience and/or understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusive practices (i.e. Indigeneity, anti-racism, LGBTQ2+) as it relates to the local population
Required Skills and Abilities:
Ability to establish rapport and maintain respectful relationships with young people and family members
Empathic, compassionate, with good listening skills and creative thinking.
Observe and recognize changes in youth and communicate those changes to others on the care team
Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
Self-awareness and capacity to apply appropriate boundaries and maintain confidentiality
Promote positive change and independence
Self-starter with a positive attitude, and able to advocate for self and others
Knowledge of social, mental health, and substance use services available in the community
Knowledge of systemic issues and risk factors facing minority groups including LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous youth and young adults, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism
Problem-solving and decision-making skills; ability to gather and process information to support the organization and its team
Communication skills; ability to speak, listen, and write clearly, thoroughly, and professionally
Organizational and time management skills, accountability, reliability, and punctuality.
Ability to work independently and show initiative, as well as be part of an interdisciplinary team
Basic computer skills: experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
NOTE: A clear Criminal Record Review to be provided, and updated every five (5) years
