Volunteer Peer Support Worker (Male or trans identifying)

IF YOU DON’T HAVE PREVIOUS PEER SUPPORT TRAINING, YOU MUST COMPLETE 15 hours of OUR RECOMMENDED TRAINING before joining the group sessions

Role Summary: Under the supervision of our Peer Support Lead, the incoming Volunteer Peer Support Worker will conduct virtual one-on-one support sessions with adults who have experienced technology-facililtated sexual violence. The Peer Support Worker will also contribute to program outreach initiatives by sharing about our program with their professional contacts, co-facilitate virtual information sessions and create resources for our program participants.

Background

The Digital Sexual Violence Support Centre (DSVSC) is a Canadian and federally-incorporated nonprofit that provides educational resources, research, and advocacy support for adult survivors of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). 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 operates on a virtual basis. For more information about the DSVSC, please visit: www.thedsvsc.ca

Program Context: The DSVSC runs a peer support program that offers groups and one-on-one sessions to adults who have experienced TFSV in Canada. The program is intended to offer shoulder-to-shoulder emotional support and equip survivors with the resources and community outlet required to advance them on their healing journeys. Our group sessions are currently online and offered exclusively to women. Whereas our one-on-one sessions are available online and in-person, plus they’re available to adults of all genders. Peer support sessions can be booked online through the DSVSC’s website: www.thedsvsc.ca/programs

Minimum commitment: 6 months (2 to 4 hours per week)

Location: Virtual/remote within Canada.

Residency: This position is exclusively open to those currently 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:

• Lead at least 1-3 individual peer support sessions per week. **Under the supervision of our Peer Support Supervisor.
• Attend regular peer support team meetings and provide updates about overarching client interactions, helpful practices and tools
• 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
• Co-facilitate virtual information sessions and presentations on TFSV to survivors, service providers and parents
• Support program outreach by sharing about the DSVSC’s peer support program with your professional network
• Support the development of an internal resource directory including information regarding legal aid, financial aid, free and discounted registered therapy programs for survivors of sexual violence in Canada
• 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)
• Lead resource navigation during sessions, by providing survivors with information about health, wellness, recovery, legal aid and financial aid
• Participate in ongoing program planning and evaluation efforts
• Participate in administrative and reflective practice supervision
• Follow legal requirements and agency policies

Required Experience and Skills:

• Lived experience of technology-facilitated sexual violence
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
• Sufficient advancement on one’s healing journey from TFSV
• Capable and willing to hear survivors’ experiences of sexual trauma
• Maintains a personal self-care practice
• Partial completion of a college certificate or Bachelor's degree in Mental Health and Addictions, Counselling, Therapy, Nursing, Sociology, Psychology or a related field

Qualifications:

• Open to receiving and incorporates the constructive feedback from the Volunteer Peer Support Lead
• Capable of demonstrating sensitivity and trauma-informed care to address the unique needs and experiences of sexual violence survivors
• Committed to maintaining up-to-date knowledge on TFSV
• 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
• Comfortable working independently, or with minimal oversight (during your 1 on 1 peer support sessions, with the guidance of a Program Supervisor)

Preferred Experience (but not required)

• Knowledge of peer support programs and services in Canada
• Previous completion of training in peer support work (Ex. Core Skills SHH/TEACH, Core Essentials OPDI)
• Certificates in WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) or ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)