Volunteer Peer Support Worker (Individual Sessions)

The Digital Sexual Violence Support Centre (DSVSC) is a Canadian and federally-incorporated non-profit that provides educational resources, research, and advocacy support for adult survivors of technology-facilitated sexual violence. The includes adults living in Canada who have faced online sexual harassment, doxxing, intimate image abuse, cyber-stalking, and the creation of sexual deepfake images and videos. The DSVSC is based in Ontario, Canada and operates on a virtual basis.

• Time: 2-4 hours per week (or 8-16 hours per month)

ALL MEETINGS ARE SET IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME

• Minimum commitment: 5 months

Location: Virtual/remote in Canada.

This position is exclusively open to those living in Canada.

**Lived experience of technology-facilitated sexual violence is required
*Criminal record check required
*Accepted volunteers will need to read and sign our Code of Conduct and related organizational policies and documents

Note: We refer to our program attendees as survivors. Our volunteers are not the dedicated clinicians of these attendees but rather individuals who share lived experience of TFSV.

Key Tasks:

• Hold at least 1-3 individual peer support sessions per week. **Under the supervision of our Peer Support Supervisor.
• Actively listen to survivors, while affirming their lived experiences of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) during the 1 on 1 sessions
• Tailor the recommended services and supports to meet the preferences and needs of the program participants
• Provide concrete assistance to help survivors accomplish their session goals (e.g. learn about healthy coping mechanisms, share their lived experience, and help them define their next steps)
• Help survivors in identifying their personal support systems (e.g. trusted family/chosen family, close friends, and peers)
• Assist survivors in identifying and enhancing their personal strengths and resiliencies (e.g. unique talents, gifts, and skills)
• Support holistic and ongoing recovery planning for survivors (e.g. suggesting relevant somatic movement, breathing, meditation, and reflection resources, plus the organizations that offer these services)
• Provide information about skills related to health, wellness, and recovery
• Participate in ongoing program planning and evaluation efforts
• Participate in administrative and reflective practice supervision
• Follow legal requirements and agency policies

Required Experience:

• Lived experience of technology-facilitated sexual violence
• Partial completion of a college certificate or Bachelor's degree in Mental Health and Addictions, Counselling, Therapy, Nursing, Sociology, Psychology or a related field

Preferred Experience (but not required)

• Knowledge of peer support programs and services
• Previous training in Peer Support Work (Ex. Core Skills SHH/TEACH, Core Essentials OPDI)
• WRAP Training Certified
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Addictions or a related discipline.

Qualifications:

• Excellent oral communication skills in English and strong active-listening skills
• Open to receiving and incorporates the constructive feedback from the Volunteer Peer Support Supervisor
• Capable of demonstrating sensitivity and trauma-informed care to the unique needs and experiences of survivors of (TFSV)
• Committed to maintaining up-to-date knowledge on TFSV examples, Canadase studies and strategies to support survivors of sexual violence and gender-based violence
• Respects the pronouns and cultural practices of each survivor
• Open to taking relevant training and certifications to improve culturally-sensitive care to survivors
• Recognizes and affirms the positive qualities and behaviors of survivors
• Knowledge and familiarity of the mental health, addiction and social service systems in Ontario and/or Canada
• Works collaboratively with colleagues
• Well-organized and great time management skills
• Comfortable working independently, or with minimal oversight (during your 1 on 1 peer support sessions, with the guidance of a Program Supervisor)