Youth Peer Support Worker - Maple Ridge, Canada - Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services

Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services

Verified Company

Maple Ridge, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

DATE:
April 18, 2024

PROGRAM:
Foundry Ridge-Meadows

POSITION:
Youth Peer Support Worker

LOCATION:
Maple Ridge, BC

YOUTH PEER SUPPORT WORKER
Foundry is removing barriers and increasing access to health and wellness services for young people ages

12-24 and their caregivers through a network of youth-friendly centres across British Columbia and

online. By offering integrated mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual health

care, youth and family peer support and social services, Foundry makes it easier for young people to find

support in their communities. Online resources and first-of-its-kind virtual care further broaden Foundry's

reach.

The Youth Peer Support (YPS) Worker participates as a member of the Foundry centre team. Drawing on

their own lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, the YPS worker helps youth

and young adults with enhancing their health and wellness, service navigation, and resource information

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. An ability to support neurodiverse, gender and

sexually diverse, Indigenous, racialized, rural and remote, or youth and young adults with physical

disabilities as a peer would be considered an asset. This position assists with the delivery of walk-in

services and outreach activities, offering 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.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Plays a key role in ensuring that the centre offers a safe, welcoming, inclusive and youthfriendly

environment;

Establishes a purposeful relationship with young people and supports their engagement and

participation in centre services;

Provides support, guidance and mentorship for youth and their families and assists in sharing

information on resources and live experience system navigation;

Assists youth with the activities of daily living including time management, organization and

interpersonal communication;

Accompanies youth to appointments in the community;
Develops, leads or cofacilitates group services to promote skill development and mental health and

substance use recovery and relapse prevention;

Coordinates, participates in or assists with planning recreation and social activities;
Provides support to aid with reducing youth's distress, improve or maintain functioning and enable

independence and active participation;

Works collaboratively with team members to meet preestablished goals and objectives, facilitates

recovery-based peer support meetings and activities;

Works collaboratively with centre staff, community and hospitalbased teams to build relationships

between youth, families and systems to enhance the awareness of youth and family needs;

Completes and maintains related records and documentation in electronic medical records and data

systems including service information, progress reports and notes, and care plans;

Participates in team meetings, case conferences and organizational initiatives;
Works as a liaison between the Foundry centre, the youth accessing the centre and the Youth Peer

Engagement Coordinator on the Foundry Central Office team; and

Participates in various knowledge exchange and learning opportunities facilitated by Foundry

Central Office

QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Training and Experience

Diploma in a related human / social service field with a minimum of one year relevant 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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

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

members;

Knowledge of peer support practices and recovery
Empathic and compassionate, with good listening skills and creative thinking and a willingness to

share one's own story to facilitate and support recovery.

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;

confidentiality;

Ability to promote positive change and independence;
Selfstarter with a positive attitude and able to advocate for self and others;
Broad 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;