Peer Supporter / Group Facilitator - Pathways to Wellbeing Project

Mission:

To support and empower people affected by mental health and/or addiction challenges by providing inclusive peer-support programs.

Vision:

People with lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges live full lives of their choosing within supportive, inclusive communities. 

CONTRACT POSITION: 1 Full-time (37.5 hours per week) contract position, starting as soon as possible, up to December 31, 2025. Peer Supporter/ Group co-facilitator with the Pathways to Wellbeing Project.

REPORTS TO: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism (EDIAR) Manager and Community Liaison

LOCATION: York Region – various locations, including some work from home in a safe and confidential workspace.

Please note: A valid Canadian driver’s license and access to use of personal vehicle for work purposes is required for this position. 

Introduction:

Incorporated in 1998, Krasman Centre is a community based mental health and addiction Consumer/Survivor Initiative serving York Region, north Toronto, and South Simcoe County. All our staff and volunteers are individuals with direct lived experience, of mental health and/or addiction challenges and/or as family members/caregivers.

We offer a wide range of peer-support based programs and services including:

• Peer Support Drop-In Centres
• 24/7 Warm Line and Peer Crisis Support Service
• Mobile Peer Support Outreach
• Family Support Program
• Peer Support training programs
• Peer Navigators embedded in hospital Emergency Departments

More information about Krasman Centre can be found here: www.krasmancentre.com

Peer Support is a respectful relationship between the Peer Supporter and the individual that promotes empowerment, trust and mutuality and supports individuals to make changes and decisions to address their current level of distress and enhance their recovery and wellness. Peer Support uses recovery-oriented principles with individuals to help combat stigma, raise self-esteem, improve self-concept, and instill hope.

Peer Supporters have gone through a process of recovery and have obtained peer support related training to assist others with mental health challenges. The Peer Supporter defines, models, and mentors' recovery values, attitudes, beliefs, and personal actions to encourage wellness and resilience. Activities of peer support promote self-directed recovery by emphasizing the person, rather than the identified mental health, substance use/addiction challenge.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Peer Supporter/ Group co-facilitator working in the Pathways to Wellbeing project will coordinate and facilitate multiple in person and virtual recovery series workshops (ie. WRAP, Pathways to Recovery).

Drawing from their own personal lived experience of mental health/substance use/addiction challenges, the Peer Supporter will support individuals as they consider and determine their own unique goals and objectives in their personal recovery journey.

Krasman Centre is seeking a reliable, emotionally intelligent, professional, and compassionate individuals with lived/ living experience with mental health and/ or substance use/addiction and

recovery, to deliver recovery-oriented workshops. The candidate must have group facilitation experience.

DUTIES:

• Coordinate and facilitate Recovery Education Series workshops to program participants throughout York Region.
• Orient participants to the Peer Supporter role including an understanding of the
  non-clinical role and voluntary nature of peer support
• Provide Peer Support (in both 1:1 and group formats), that reflects the values of Peer Support
• As appropriate, support the development and revision of individual’s recovery / wellness plans
• Encourage and support participants to identify their own strengths
• Develop a work plan to deliver the project during the service term
• Group Coordination will include but is not limited to:
• Scheduling of groups
• Researching and booking venues in various locations throughout York region
• Group(s) promotion
• Participant registration
• Ordering supplies and food for groups
• Group co-facilitation in partnership with an additional staff co-facilitator
• Completion preparations, including certificates
• Create and sustain a warm and supportive training environment that encourages wellness
• Point of contact for participants
• Manage and maintain attendance during workshops
• Develop, prepare and maintain standardized documents and email lists
• Develop monitoring tools to assess project effectiveness
• Develop and/ or utilize pre-existing evaluation methods to measure the workshop and project’s success. Collect and analyze feedback for quality improvement
• Create and maintain database to collect and maintain programming statistics for funders and/or stakeholders.
• Project reporting including narrative reports
• Documentation, statistical data collection as needed, using strengths-based, recovery supporting language
• Maintain group facilitator renewal/ requirements
• Support organizational efforts to increase internal capacity for training
• Support organizational efforts to expand fee for service training
• Attend staff meetings and supervision meetings as scheduled
• Participate in at least one internal committee
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use/addiction challenges and recovery
• Graduate or current participant in peer support training
• Must have Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Level 2 (Facilitator Training)
• Must have group facilitation experience and skills
• Strong knowledge and grounding in Harm Reduction principles and practices
• Strong knowledge and practice of anti-racism and anti-oppression principles and commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Awareness of issues faced by equity-deserving communities
• Demonstrated Peer Support practice that is culturally appropriate and seen through a lens that is conscious of intersectionality
• Ability to apply Recovery principles, strengths-based approach and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with participants
• Strong knowledge, understanding and practice of trauma informed approaches to mental health, substance use and addictions issues
• Possess excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, stigma, medications, and the isolation felt by individuals with substance use/mental health issues and their families
• Knowledge of local supports and services in GTA, including formal and informal resources
• Effective leadership, decision-making, organizational and problem-solving skills are required
• The ability to be flexible, self-directed, self-reflective, and supportive
• Ability to work effectively with a co-facilitator
• Demonstrate self-awareness and purposeful self-disclosure
• Demonstrate awareness of diversity issues and the personal impact of barriers, stigma and discrimination faced by people with addiction/mental health challenges
• Ability to use computers and software such as Microsoft Windows, Office, and Teams
• Ability to speak a second language is a strong asset
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, mental health reform principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, and the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPPA requirements
• Current certificate in or ability to complete First Aid and CPR training

PEER SUPPORT VALUES:

• Hope and recovery – acknowledging the power of hope and the positive impact that comes from a recovery approach.
• Self-determination – believing that each person intrinsically knows which path towards recovery is most suitable for them and their needs, noting that it is the peer’s choice whether to become involved in a peer support relationship.
• Empathetic and equal relationships – noting that the peer support relationship and all involved can benefit from the reciprocity and better understanding that comes from a similar lived experience. 
• Dignity, respect and social inclusion – acknowledging the intrinsic worth of all individuals, whatever their background, preferences or situation. 
• Integrity, authenticity and trust – noting that confidentiality, reliability and ethical behaviour are honoured in each and every interaction. 
• Health and wellness – acknowledging all aspects of a healthy and full life. 
• Lifelong learning and personal growth – acknowledging the value of learning, changing and developing new perspectives for all individuals. 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

All employees are responsible for carrying out work in a way that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others. All employees are expected to learn, understand and adhere to health and safety policies and procedures.

Physical requirements of this job include but are not limited to sitting or standing for long periods of time, using technology (computer/ phone screens) for long periods of time, lifting/transporting of group related items and materials (eg. food, refreshments, books).

SCHEDULE/ WORKING CONDITIONS:

• 1 Full-time (37.5 hours per week) contract position, starting as soon as possible, up to December 31, 2025
• Evening and Weekend shifts may be required for virtual and in-person work
• Self-directed environment. Must be able to work well independently as well as within a team.
• Personal Internet access in a safe/confidential workspace required
• Wage range is $44,323.50 ($22.73/ hour) to $48,750 ($25/ hour) annually

PLEASE NOTE: This position is conditional upon the candidate being in adherence with the current Covid-19 Vaccination policy of the Krasman Centre.

Email your resume and cover letter to Linda Elwin at l.elwin@krasmancentre.com and info@krasmancentre.com

Your cover letter should include:

• Why you would like to work in this role.
• How your experiences match the job requirements.
• What specific skills you can bring to this role.
• Please quote “Peer Supporter, Pathways to Wellbeing” subject line of your email.
• This posting will remain open until position is filled.
• While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Krasman Centre is a progressive work environment committed to employment equity, and promotion of diversity in the workplace. Those who would contribute to the further diversification of the organization are encouraged to apply and include, but are not limited to, members of Black, Indigenous, racialized, immigrant, 2-SLGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities.

If you require assistance with the application process or wish to receive this posting in an alternate format, please contact us:

• General email address: info@krasmancentre.com, Toll free phone #: 1-888-780-0724
• Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process as per the Ontario Human Rights Code.