Peer Support Specialist, Withdrawal Management & Treatment
Why Work for SOAR Community Services
About SOAR Community Services
SOAR Community Services (formerly St. Leonard's Community Services) has been an established part of the community for more than 55 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults, and families.
Our Values
These aren’t just “lip-service” to us – we work and live by them. If you do, too, we want to talk to you!
- Inclusive – we value everyone and their unique perspectives and journeys
- Compassionate – we care about our clients, our staff, partners, and the communities we serve
- Collaborative – we work together to support our clients and community
- Integrity – we hold ourselves accountable and are fair, trustworthy, and dedicated to our mission to empower people to achieve their vision of independence, health, and wellbeing
- Innovative – we are open to change and continuous improvement
- Genuine – we are honest, respectful, and authentic with our clients, each other, and our partners
- Optimistic – we believe that everyone can accomplish their goals
Hours of work: Tuesday – Saturday (Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Tuesday-Friday 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Duties
Peer Support Specialists collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive support to individuals aged 16 + who experience addictions and concurrent disorders. Peer Support is delivered both one-to-one and in groups, offering support for recovery, connection, and bridging to independence. This includes facilitating our Continuing Care and/or Hopeful Journeys groups.
This Withdrawal Management and Treatment Services (WMTS) Peer Support position will provide support within our withdrawal management and men’s treatment programs. Though this is your primary assignment, you will work collaboratively with other Peer Support staff to support all clients accessing WMTS services. Your core role is to support clients as they start their recovery journey by fostering connection and comfort within the program and encouraging active participation. You will appropriately share your knowledge, experience, and coping strategies to help others. Being situated within a bed-based environment uniquely positions the Peer Support Specialist to build supportive relationships with their peers, creating a strong foundation to attain their recovery goals. You make a difference!
As a Peer Support Specialist, you will draw on your own personal lived experience with addictions or concurrent disorders to:
- Assist and mentor others as they consider their unique goals and how to achieve them.
- Support individuals by offering hope of recovery for those affected by addictions and/or concurrent disorders.
- Provide activities, support, and linkages that help to improve quality of life and ability to cope with daily stressors.
- Facilitate peer lead groups for those in the program, those waiting for service, and people who have completed treatment.
- Provide insight to other team members from a peer perspective, while working collaboratively with them
- Maintain effective professional boundaries with peers in the program.
Qualifications
- Lived experience using the substance use and/or mental health system.
- College diploma or certificate in any field
- Able to be a positive role model, sharing what allowed you to recover, while respecting the individual choices of others
- Proficient in MS Office and familiar with databases.
- Access to reliable transportation
- Able to manage frequent exposure to vicarious traumatic stress.
Eligibility
As soon as possible
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
- Full Time staff start at 3 weeks’ vacation (pro-rated)
- 60 Hours of Personal Leave Time for Full Time staff (pro-rated)
- 15 Hours of Wellness Time for Full Time Staff (pro-rated the first year)
- Staff Wellness Activities
How to Apply
Our Commitment to Job Seekers
SOAR Community Services is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wyandot, the Haudenosaunee, and some of the Ojibwa Nation. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, on this territory. We also acknowledge that the settler population has been able to benefit from this beautiful land. We are all treaty members and will strive to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and center their voices.
The Agency values the diverse and intersectional identities of its clients and staff. The Agency regards equity and diversity as an integral part of excellent community service and is committed to accessibility for all staff. The Agency seeks applicants who embrace our values and beliefs around respect for the dignity and diversity of our clients, staff, and community. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
The Agency encourages applications from all qualified individuals. If you are an applicant with disabilities and require accommodations, please let us know at the time of our contact so that we may arrange for their provision.
Personal information submitted will only be used for the purposes of the competition in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.