Family Peer Support Worker

CMHA Kelowna is hiring a Family Peer Support Worker to join the Foundry Kelowna team. The full-time role is 37.5 hours per week, with a typical work week of Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm with flexibility of extended hours on Thursdays. 

 WHO IS A FAMILY PEER SUPPORT WORKER?  

The Family Peer Support Worker plays a vital role in the Foundry Kelowna team, leveraging their lived experience to create a client-centered, low-barrier service for families seeking support. This position emphasizes fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment while assisting families with service navigation, resource information, and connection to community resources. The Family Peer Support Worker offers peer-based mentoring, emotional support, and engages in collaborative efforts with families and care team members. 

 WHAT DOES A FAMILY PEER SUPPORT WORKER DO?  

• Create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for families 

• Establish purposeful relationships with families, promoting their engagement and participation in services 

• Provide guidance and mentorship, assisting families with resource navigation and accessing services 

• Accompany families to community appointments and advocate on their behalf 

• Facilitate family's engagement in focus groups, workshops, and surveys to amplify their voices and experiences 

• Provide support to reduce families distress, improve functioning, and promote independence 

• Act as a liaison between Foundry Kelowna and external support networks 

• Lead or co-facilitate group services focused on skills development and mental health recovery 

• Plan, coordinate, and participate in recreational and social activities for families 

• Facilitate peer support meetings and activities, promoting a recovery-oriented approach 

• Work collaboratively with Family Navigation and Family & Natural Supports Programs.  

• Maintain accurate records and documentation 

• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and organizational initiatives 

• Collaborates with peer support workers at Foundry Kelowna to optimize the youth, young adult and caregiver/family experience as it relates to the delivery of services 

• Performs other related duties as assigned 

 YOUR SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:  

• Grade 12 education or equivalent required 

• Criminal Record Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector is required 

• Certificates in First Aid, CPR and Naloxone considered an asset 

• Lived experience of caring for a young person who has experienced significant challenges in life (including Mental Health or Substance Use) 

• Capacity to use one’s living/lived experience to promote positive connections with families and caregivers at differing levels of engagement 

• Completion of (or eligibility for) recognized peer support training is considered an asset 

• Experience working with families with mental health and/or substance use issues considered an asset 

• Ability to build relationship and rapport building skills with diverse populations 

• Strong empathy and active listening skills 

• Self-awareness and capacity to apply appropriate boundaries while maintaining confidentiality 

• Advocacy skills for self and others, promoting positive change and independence 

• Proficient in basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) 

• Experience using case management systems 

• Broad knowledge of social, mental health, and substance use services in the community 

• Ability to gather, process, and analyze information to inform service delivery  

• Ability to understand and follow a strength-based approach for sharing challenges and co-creating solutions 

• Ability to participate in activities that may involve light physical exertion (e.g., planning and participating in recreational activities) 

• Capacity to travel within the community to accompany families to appointments 

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills to address family needs effectively 

• Ability to observe and recognize changes in family behavior and communicate these to the care team 

• Organizational skills to manage time effectively and maintain accountability and reliability 

• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills 

• Ability to be regularly exposed to individuals who are struggling with and/or recovering from trauma, drug/alcohol use, homelessness, mental health challenges and/or mental illness 

• Ability to meet clients in the community on a frequent basis 

• Valid Class 5 driver’s license considered an asset 

 WHO IS CMHA KELOWNA? 

At CMHA Kelowna, we are dedicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, we provide support for families and individuals through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovative and visionary organization. We are looking for someone who shares our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization. To learn more, check out our website at www.cmhakelowna.org 

 CMHA KELOWNA OFFERS YOU: 

• A competitive hourly range of $24.36-$28.01/hr 

• Dental, Health & EAP Benefits 

• Wellness Spending Account 

• Vacation Pay & Personal Health Days 

• Wellness Spending Account 

• A workplace culture that fosters learning, transparency, trust and teamwork 

 As an employer, CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical self-expression. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna does every day. 

 We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted. 

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.