The EMHC is hiring up to 2 new part-time Peer Outreach Worker to support its Peer N Peer Harm Reduction Program. As individuals with lived experience of substance use and being a part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Peer Outreach Workers are an integral part of the team and ensure that community members are able to access sexual health and substance use supports and services from individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the issues they face.
We strongly encourage people belonging to the following communities to apply:
Two-Spirit/indigenous
QTBIPOC
Trans and non-binary
People with disabilities and/or those with lived experience of mental or physical health concerns
People living with HIV
If any assistance is needed in order to complete your application package, please contact connect@peernpeer.ca as soon as possible.
Key Responsibilities
The successful Peer Outreach Worker will work alongside the Program Coordinator to support a range of activities within the Peer N Peer program, including but not limited to:
Providing online screening, referral, and support through MyBuzz.ca and dating apps/sites.
Distributing harm reduction supplies and education to 2SLGBTQ+ community members, active peer support and crisis support as needed.
Attending a range of professional development seminars around better supporting 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and those who use substances.
Delivering motivational interviewing counselling to community members seeking to change their substance use and sexual health practices.
Supporting the Program Coordinator in the development of community education and stakeholder capacity-building content.
Supporting in-person and online outreach activities, facilitating community and stakeholder education session.
Supporting the Program Coordinator at meetings as required (facilitation, note-taking, etc.).
Collecting and recording evaluation data as needed.
Qualifications
Education
No education is required.
Diploma or training in Social Work, Addictions Counselling, or similar field is an asset.
Experience
Lived experience as a queer, 2S, or trans person who uses/has used substances is an asset.
Experience providing frontline support/services (i.e. counselling, system navigation) to peers is desired.
Experience developing and delivering education content/workshops is desired.
Paid or volunteer experience in the fields of queer and trans health, HIV/HCV/STBBIs, and/or substance use/harm reduction is desired.
Desired Competencies
Public Speaking: The successful candidate will support the delivery of education, training, and group-work sessions with community members and healthcare/service providers. Experience in public speaking is an asset.
Community Engagement: Peer Support Workers will be required to engage meaningfully with a diverse range of community members in a variety of settings (at large community events, one-on-one by appointment, and online). Demonstrated experience effectively engaging individuals in a variety of settings, with tangible results (linking to services/care/programming) is an asset.
Web and Social Media: The project will include the design and delivery of online content through websites and social media. An understanding of producing and delivering content through different web and social media platforms is an asset.
Network & Relationship Building: The successful candidate will be required to establish and maintain relationships with key partners (academic, community-based organizations, etc.).
Previous experience developing and maintaining relationships with a diverse network of stakeholders will be an asset.
Time Management: The successful candidate will enjoy a flexible work schedule. However, they must be able to manage their time so that they are able to meet an ambitious schedule of deliverables. Demonstrated ability to execute responsibilities on a tight timeline in flexible work environments with minimal supervision is an asset.
Conflict Resolution: We are all human. And where there are humans, there will be conflict. At some point throughout the program, conflict will emerge. The successful candidate should identify opportunities for conflict and address them before they emerge. When conflict does emerge, the successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to address it in an effective and sensitive manner so that all parties feel supported and are able to move forward, in relationship, with one another.
Equity: Some sexual and gender minority individuals also experience additional intersecting identities which can result in increased experiences of stigma and discrimination. In turn, this can result in some individuals facing additional barriers to health and wellbeing, as well as barriers to participation in programs and services. The successful candidate should have a working knowledge of the concepts of equity, intersectionality, and anti-oppression and be able to apply them in a way that benefits the experience of all program participants. Demonstrated experience applying these principles will be an asset.
Other
Reliable access to a vehicle is an asset.
CPR level C and AED is an asset.
Non-violent crisis intervention, ASIST, and other suicide intervention, mental health & deescalation training is an asset.
Compensation
$25/hr
Term
May 2021 - April 2022 with possibility of extension.
Hours
Avg. of 7 - 14 hours of work per week; Hours and location of work (within Edmonton) are flexible; some evening and weekend work required
How To Apply
Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to connect@peernpeer.ca by 11:59pm on Friday, May 7th, addressed to the EMHC Hiring Committee.
In the email, applicants should also provide times that they are available for an interview from Tuesday, May 11th-Friday, May 14th. Successful candidates will be provided interview times by Monday, May 10th at 6pm.