Peer Support Specialist - Halifax, Canada - North End Community Health Centre

North End Community Health Centre

Verified Company

Halifax, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Internal and External Opportunity Brief

Position
:
Peer Support Specialist

Reports to:
Housing First Manager

Location: 5527 Nora Bernard St + Outreach

Pay Scale:
$ $23.13/ hour + benefits

Work Term: 2.0

FTE:
1 1.0 FTE and 2 0.5 FTE. One year term positions with the possibility of extension

Start Date:
March 31, 2023

About NECHC

The North End Community Health Centre (NECHC) was established in 1971 in response to an absence of primary health care and other health services in Halifax's North End.

Located on Gottingen Street, we are in the heart of a unique and culturally diverse community. Today, governed by the North End Community Health Association, the
NECHC is viewed by area residents as a "beacon of hope" in the community.

Much more than a Primary Care Clinic, the NECHC has expanded in response to unmet needs of community members and is highly-valued by its patients and clients and their families.

NECHC provides services to those living on the margins of society, through MOSH,
Housing First and a wide range of community outreach initiatives.

Vision
Strong community - healthy people.

Mission

We support health and well-being in our community through quality primary health care, education and advocacy in an environment in which people are treated with respect and dignity and there is equitable access to services and programs.

Values
Respect. Community. Compassion. Excellence. Innovation

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment
The North End Community Health Centre is committed to being an inclusive organization. We are working to ensure our organization represents the diverse people and communities we serve.

Our position postings encourage members from the following communities to apply:

2SLGBTQIA++
African Nova Scotian and/or people of African Descent
Indigenous
People with disabilities
Language minorities
People of Colour and/or racially visible minorities
Immigrant and refugee
Connected to the North End of Halifax

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Job Purpose
The Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) Housing First program is a program of the NECHC in Halifax. This

project is funded by the federal government under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. This Peer Support position

is funded by the Provincial government. All activities associated with housing first will be managed by the manager

for mosh housing first. This team supports folks on various caseloads to secure and maintain their

housing. Participants will often have serious mental illness that is often accompanied with heavy substance use,

history of involvement in the criminal justice system and chronic physical illness. A multi-disciplinary team provides a

service that is based on case management and assertive outreach. They prioritize individuals and couples with

multiple barriers (struggles with substance use, chronic health and mental health) who are African Nova Scotian,

Indigenous and/or Two-Spirit, transgender and/or gender diverse.

The housing first peer support specialist will bring their lived experience and expertise to work with an

interdisciplinary team, while supporting participants who are in the housing first program. The peer support specialists

will provide daily support, programming/groups, and mentoring to participants. The peer support specialist

collaborates with participants to provide individualized and flexible support to engage and integrate them into the

community, and helps to facilitate their access to resources and supports to maximize their independence and

potential, and promote their recovery.

Major Responsibilities

Maintain relevant, timely and accurate documentation as required
Advocate for clients when required/necessary
Connect clients to community resources, supports and meaningful activities
Work with clients to practice gaining independence
Support each client in their own community
Attend appointments with clients
Assist with community building events
Attend team meetings
Communicating well with the multidisciplinary team of intensive case managers, case managers, occupational

therapist, mosh nurses, community organizations, etc

Coordinate programming activities with housing first participants and housing first staff for further engagement

purposes and community integration which could include, arts & crafts, hiking, cooking meals, drop in's etc

Maintain client confidentiality and clear boundaries
Adhere to the standards set out in the mosh housing first procedures manual
Share learning, challenges, successes, community connections, and resources with the team
Provide feedback and share knowledge toward best practices for service delivery and ongoing program

development