One of the fastest growing branches of CMHA, the Canadian Mental Health Association York Region and South Simcoe (CMHA-YRSS) provides 30+ mental health and addiction programs to adults, youth (age 12+), family caregivers, local businesses and community organizations. Providing a safe environment for our staff and clients is of the utmost importance to us and we continue to closely follow COVID-19 protocols and directives from Public Health. All CMHA-YRSS employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of hire. Rest assured that your well-being is our top priority and we have appropriate health and safety measures in place at each stage of the recruiting process and throughout our operations.

We are hiring a Peer Support Specialist on our MOBYSS team!

• Relief/On-Call - Up to 35 hours per week. Flexible evening and/or weekend hours may be required

Why work for CMHA York Region?

We are a team committed to our vision of mental health support for all. We offer an inclusive, innovative and high-performance work culture that helps us deliver transformational impact. The organization cares about the growth, safety and well-being of employees and offers:

• Competitive Total Compensation (including salary, benefits, pension)
• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan) effective Nov 2021
• Comprehensive Health Benefits
• Robust Performance and Career Development program
• Learning & development opportunities

Learn more about us by visiting: https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

Closing Date: April 30, 2023

Location: In accordance with current Public Health directives, interviews and training may be conducted remotely (via Zoom or Microsoft Teams) or onsite respecting physical distancing depending on the nature of the session. The number of days per week depend on program needs and staff availability.

The successful candidate will work primarily on the MOBYSS vehicle and report out of the Newmarket Office located at 1101 Nicholson Rd, Unit 5, Newmarket, ON and will be required to occasionally travel within York Region & South Simcoe for training, meetings and client visits.

Job Profile:

The Peer Support Specialist collaborates with consumers to provide individualized and flexible support to help engage and integrate them into the community, and help to facilitate access to resources and supports to maximize independence and potential, and promote recovery. Peer Support Specialists have gone through a process of recovery and have obtained peer support related training to assist others with mental health challenges to identify and achieve life goals as part of their own recovery. In collaboration with the team, the Peer Support Specialist uses empowerment and Recovery-oriented approaches with individuals and groups to help combat stigma, raise self-esteem and mastery, improve self-concept, and instill hope

In addition to compliance with all organizational policies and procedures, the incumbent is also expected to behave ethically, demonstrate competence in effective communication and team building, demonstrate effectiveness in working in a collaborative environment, and demonstrate confidence in decision-making and in building relationships.

Requirements:

• A degree or diploma in the health or social services, or a related discipline
• Four years or more experience of the mental health system
• Personal experience in recovery from a mental health and/or addiction problem
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment-oriented philosophies and practices in work with consumers
• Ability to observe boundaries, engage in appropriate emotional regulation, refrain from dual relationships with consumers, maintain confidentiality, and engage in reasonable self-care strategies designed to reduce stress by balancing work/life responsibilities
• Ability to prioritize needs and organize work efficiently
• Aptitude in developing innovative approaches to service delivery
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A second language (Cantonese, Farsi, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Urdu) reflecting the local community is preferred
• Excellent problem-solving and decision making skills
• Proficiency with various forms of presentation media
• Competence in relevant computer applications particularly Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, mental health reform principles, the Substitute Decisions Act, the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPA requirements
• Ability to apply Recovery principles and empowerment oriented philosophies and practices in work with clients
• A valid Canadian driver’s license, a minimum $1,000,000 third party liability insurance
• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening or Police Check

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual assigned to the job. This information is not constructed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in the job.

This position reports to, and is supervised by Manager, People & Teams, MOBYSS.

Working Conditions: Ability to work on a recreational vehicle, which will require extensive travel within York Region and South Simcoe.

Disclaimer: In keeping with mental health reform, best practices, funding and direction this position may later require knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions not noted here.

Application Procedures:

If you are interested in this opportunity, follow the link below and click on the “Apply Now” button in the top right corner of the page to proceed to upload your cover letter and resume:

https://cmha-yr.on.ca/careers/

Complete the application form and submit the following:

• Cover letter with 300 words or less and tell us why you would want the role and why you should be considered for the position (PDF or Word)
• Resume (PDF or Word)

CMHA-YRSS supports the recovery of people with mental illness and promotes diversity in the workplace. We welcome all applicants including persons with lived experience, women, aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+, visible minority and immigrant communities to apply.

While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

To request this posting in an alternate format or to request accommodation in the application process, email AODA@cmha-yr.on.ca