Peer Support Specialist

PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

FOCUS Team

One (1) Bargaining Unit, Permanent Full-Time Position

Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Compensation: $22.44 hour

About Cota

Cota’s core values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation are at centre of who we are and what we do.

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative individual who will work enthusiastically to deliver recovery oriented support to service users and their families. This support should be service user centered, comprehensive, and responsive to their needs. Additionally, the incumbent should ensure the safety of service users and actively contribute to a quality improvement framework aimed at enhancing quality and quantitative outcomes of our services. Service Users and family centered care is the guiding principle at Cota that helps improve decision making processes, health outcomes and service users experiences. The successful incumbent will embed this guiding principle into their work. 

Role Overview

We are seeking a Peer Support Specialist to provide recovery oriented support through lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges.

Additionally,  The Peer Support Specialist  will work collaboratively with individuals and the team to develop recovery, goal plan, teach, coach and provide assertive outreach to individuals. 

 About the Team

The Focus is an innovative partnership program between St. Michael’s Hospital Mental Health Service and Cota.  The Focus will rely on an interdisciplinary team approach to provide a continuum of integrated intensive case management (ICM) and Assertive Community Treatment services to meet the needs of clients with mental health and complex care needs in the Mid-East Toronto Health Link.  Services to clients of the ISCT will be organized to allow for flexibility of movement between levels/intensity of services (Intensive Case Management and ACT) while ensuring continuity of care for clients.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide recovery oriented support through lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges.
• Work collaboratively with individuals and the team to develop recovery and goal plans.
• Teach, coach and provide assertive outreach to individuals.
• Support individuals to live independently in the community as they consider and determine their own unique goals and objectives.
• Provide recovery-oriented and/or harm reduction based services in a manner consistent with Cota's Mission, Vision and Values.
• Facilitate various groups: WRAP, social recreational, educational and/or life skills groups.

The Successful Candidate Requires:

• A minimum of High School Diploma AND
• Experience of providing peer support to people with lived experience.
• Degree or Diploma in health or social services (preferred).
• Completion of Peer Support training (required).
• Completion of Recovery-oriented training such as WRAP, or Pathways to Recovery (preferred).
• Personal experience in recovery from a mental health, homelessness, addiction challenge and/or  justice involvement.
• Experience in applying harm-reduction principles, providing support from an anti-racist anti-oppression framework and/or providing trauma-informed peer support.
• Experience facilitating groups.
• Ability to work in partnership and relate to people with lived mental health and justice experience from a peer perspective.
• Ability to be flexible and make recommendations to resolve issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge and ability to effectively manage personal mental health issues.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of their recovery journey and purposeful self-disclosure.
• Knowledge of peer initiatives, goals and resources.
• Knowledge of Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation as guiding principles.
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, the Substitute Decisions Act, and the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPPA (asset). 
• Ability to prioritize needs and organize work efficiently.
• Computer efficient (MS Word, E-mail, Internet).

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Conduct visits in the service recipient's homes, hostels, hospitals and other community settings, sometimes working in difficult conditions, including hoarding.
• Comfortable working with the broad range of people we support groups.
• Available to work days (with an occasional 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm shift).

Application Details:

Please forward a cover letter and your current resume on or before October 8th, 2024 by 4:00 pm with the reference IN300 

Cota is deeply committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. Being part of Cota, you know that we recognize everyone’s contribution. We are also respectful of each individual’s dignity, unique experience, potential and protected rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code. As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects the diversity of the clients and communities that we serve.

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Accommodation: Cota is an equal opportunity employer and strives to ensure that its recruitment and selection processes meets the needs of all persons with disabilities. As such, Cota will provide reasonable accommodation for any applicant, as requested during the recruitment process. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and or requests please contact the HR Department via hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca

Cota values diversity: We welcome applications by qualified candidates from equity-deserving groups, including people with disabilities, Indigenous and racialized people, and queer, trans and gender non-conforming people.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Onsite employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.)