Peer Lead

JOB TITLE: Peer Lead

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Permanent, ongoing

HOURS/WEEK: 30 hours per week

What We Live By:

• Our Vision: A community without barriers to health and wellbeing
• Our Mission: We work with our community to promote and sustain health and wellbeing for all
• Our Values: Compassion, Social Justice, Courage, Integrity, Adaptability

Guelph Community Health Centre prioritizes people who face barriers to health and accessing services, and people who identify as:

• Homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Living on low income
• Newcomers to Canada with language barriers
• Having moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues
• Having moderate to severe disabilities
• Indigenous First Nations, Inuit and Métis
• Black, mixed race and racialized populations
• Experiencing intersectional oppression
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• Vulnerable children and their families experiencing conflict, isolation or attachment struggles

The Guelph-Wellington HART Hub is an integrated and interdisciplinary primary care and social service program that provides continuous stage-matched care to individuals seeking treatment, recovery, and access to permanent housing. The services offered at the HART Hub include primary care and acute episodic healthcare, mental healthcare and treatment, addictions care and treatment and housing services for adults and youth (age 16 and older) living in Guelph and Wellington County and who are members of our priority populations.

Reporting to the Supervisor, Allied Health, the Peer Lead role will provide support within all GCHC integrated programs. They will use their unique personal and lived experiences to build positive relationships and connections with GCHC peer staff and clients. They will work with individuals along the substance use continuum and will act as a key part of the Integrated Programs Team.

Principal Job Duties:

• Delivery of all peer support functions to community members accessing services at GCHC in a way that models the values, skills and competencies of the peer workers
• Provide support for GCHC peers, bolstering the peer team to provide enhanced services
• Facilitate regular peer huddles and meetings with peers to debrief, support resiliency, and bolster team collaboration to better serve and respond to community needs
• Promote a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and client-centered service delivery model
• Complete administrative tasks such as maintaining and ordering inventory, receiving orders, tracking Naloxone, and logging and submitting required statistics for funding purposes
• Develop and facilitate peer development groups and programs
• Support GCHC peer staff and clients with problem solving and system navigation
• Participate in Peer Advisory Committees and other relevant groups 
• Support other peer role duties when required, including front-line client support 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Lived experience with addiction, mental health challenges, and/or experience with homelessness
• Experience working with people along substance use continuum
• Experience supporting clients with high levels of complexity, related to physical health, mental health, substance use, and access to basic needs
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong ability to work with and build rapport with members of our priority populations
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, to work independently with minimal direction, to multi-task, to problem solve, to take initiative, and meet the needs of the client
• Understanding of Indigenous Cultural Safety principles and trauma-informed care

We know that experience comes in many forms. If you have some of these qualities and are excited about this opportunity, then we want to hear from you. Please visit our website www.gchc.ca and apply using the online application tool. In your application, please include a resume and cover letter outlining how your skills, qualifications, and experience meet the position requirements.

Guelph Community Health Centre is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including individuals from priority populations who may identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals, and members of Black and other racialized communities.

We thank, in advance, those who apply, but will contact only those who qualify for interviews.
If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodation, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation. 

We require that all finalist applicants undergo a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen through their local Police Services Branch prior to start date.