Peer Support Specialist

PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST (PSS)

Access to Resources and Community Supports  (ARCS)

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

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Existing Vacancy

Compensation: $23.11/hour- $25.62/hour

About Cota

Cota is an accredited not-for-profit organization that has been providing community-based support to people living with mental health and cognitive challenges for over 50 years. At present, our wide array of services delivers much needed support to over 4,000 people/year who live with mental health challenges, psychogeriatric mental health conditions, acquired brain injuries, developmental disabilities, dual diagnoses and/or the experience of homelessness. These services include, but are not limited to, case management, supportive housing and adult day program services. A full listing of our services can be viewed on our website at  https://cotainspires.ca/

Cota is presently seeking a dynamic and innovative individual to join our amazing team in the capacity of the role outlined within this posting. Followed by our mission to support individuals with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their communities, we strive toward a vision of a supportive, inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. If you feel you have the skills and qualifications to perform the duties of this role while consistently exemplifying Cota’s values Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Role Overview

Peer Support Specialists offer their personal lived experience and unique health/social service consumer perspective to provide informal mentoring, coaching, guidance and group support to Cota service users facing similar experiences enrolled in Cota program and service.

About the Team

ARCS is a hospital diversion program in partnership with North York General Hospital and Humber River Health. The objective of this program is to reduce emergency department visits, by providing short term, community based case management services to individuals that had recently visited the emergency department for mental health and/or addiction matters.

The ARCS team is interdisciplinary, consisting of Mental Health Case Managers, Addictions Specialist Case Managers, a Peer Support Specialist, and an Intake Case Manager.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Peer Support Specialist's responsibilities are primarily focused on providing instructional coaching, guidance, and mentoring support to individuals enrolled in a Cota program or service.

The Peer Support Specialist's duties may involve, but not necessarily be limited to:

Individual Mentoring and Advocacy Activities:

• Provide mentoring to Cota service users when required
  
• Promote independence through teaching, support and coaching
  
• Ensure that mentoring is conducted with the principles of recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation in mind
  
• Establish a service user directed partnership that fosters independence, competencies and hope
  
• Facilitate links to other community resources
  
• Accompaniment to medical appointments, where required
  

Group Mentoring Activities:

• Organize and facilitate various groups for Cota service users. These could include but are not limited to computer training, cooking, and WRAP

Administrative Tasks:

• Properly document all service user interactions and meet the Cota documentation requirements
  
• Participate in program activities: planning, evaluation in order to provide a consumer perspective

Training:

• Attend all training related to this position and actively participate in these sessions to the satisfaction of the instructors
  
• Attend all peer support meetings with other peer support specialists and contribute in a constructive and supportive manner

Other Responsibilities:

• All program participants must be comfortable with discussing their experience with mental illness and their recovery journey
  
• Observe Cota rules and regulations, policies, procedures, practices and current legislation, in particular, the Ontario Human Rights Code
  
• Comply with all Health and Safety policies and procedures to ensure every reasonable precaution is taken for the protection of workers and service users, and that health and safety concerns or incidents are responded to promptly
  
• Works cooperatively and constructively with all staff members
  
• Ensures confidentiality of service users, employees and Cota information is always maintained
  
• Undertakes other related and/or delegated duties

Qualifications:

Education:

• High school diploma
  
• Degree or diploma in health or social services (preferred)
  
• Completion of the WRAP training an asset

Experience:

• Personal experience of the mental health system resulting from mental health issues
  
• Experience in peer support gained from volunteer or paid work
  
• Experience working with groups

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of the issues affecting people in the target group (e.g. poverty, unemployment, stigma, isolation)
  
• Knowledge and abilities to effectively manage personal mental health issues
  
• Willingness to selectively share personal information that is relevant to a situation, and for reasons that are therapeutic to the service user
  
• Demonstrates self-awareness of their recovery journey
  
• Knowledge of consumer/survivor initiatives, goals and resources
  
• Knowledge of recovery as a guiding principle
  
• Ability to work in partnership with service users
  
• Ability to work as a member of a team
  
• Ability to prioritize needs and organize work efficiently
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
  
• Computer competent
  

Other Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Full time equivalent (37.5 hours per week). The actual work schedule to be negotiated with team members and supervisor to best suit the needs of the service users and the team
• May require access to a vehicle. (Please note that access to a vehicle means owning, borrowing, or renting the vehicle. Alternatively, using ride services, such as, Uber, cab, and taxies at no cost to Cota)

Benefits:

Upon successful completion of a three-month period of employment, permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week as well as temporary full-time (with a contract for at least 1 year) and temporary part-time staff (with a contract for at least 1 year and working more than 20 hours per week) will be eligible for employer-paid group insurance benefits. These employer-paid benefits will include: 

• Extended health care
  
• Life insurance 
  
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance 
  
• Dental care 
  
• Travel assistance 
  
• Vision care

Permanent full-time and permanent part-time staff working more than 20 hours per week are also required to enroll in employee-paid long-term disability coverage.

Application Details:

Please complete the application below before October 20, 2025 at 4:00pm.

Cota is deeply committed to promoting diversity, advancing equity and fostering a culture of inclusion. We are respectful of each individual's dignity, unique experience, potential and protected rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code. As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to ensuring our workforce reflects the diversity of the 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.

Screening Process: Please note that Cota uses AI to screen potential applicants for all roles.

We would like to thank all those that apply; however, due to high volumes of interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you, Cota's HR Department.

 __________________________________________________________________

Hope, respect, dedication, equity, accountability, collaboration, and innovation are key values of Cota. We are dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace, upholding dignity, and acknowledging each person's individual contributions and potential as an equal-opportunity employer. We uphold the Ontario Human Right Code and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ people, and others who provide various viewpoints. Cota ensures an accessible hiring process in line with the AODA principles, providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For any accommodation requests, please contact hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca