Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support – RAAM Clinic
Direct Service – (OPSEU)
Full-Time, Permanent (Benefitted)
London, Ontario (London Zone)
- Application Deadline: August 13, 2025 -
We believe that everyone has the right to access supports that will foster growth and allow them to live with dignity, and independence in our community. As an Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support - RAAM Clinic you will use your similar life experience of treatment and (ongoing) recovery from substance use, to support participants in their unique journeys toward wellness. Using peer support best-practices, you will share your lived experience and model wellness to peers.
While working as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic in this non-clinical role, you will provide supports through developing an inclusive community, engaging peers with appropriate services and promoting wellness through individualized, one-to-one supports and group facilitation. You will perform these duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with the principles of harm reduction, psychosocial rehabilitation, wellness-oriented practice, and an evidence-based peer support model.
Consider revitalizing your career and making a difference in your community by joining our team!
WHAT WE'RE OFFERING:
What you'll be making - Starting rate for this role is $27.14 per hour (Level 1 – Direct Service), with a wage differential, based on regulation ($30.01 per hour for Level 1 – Direct Service, Regulated):
Successful candidates who are registered with one of the designated professional colleges (e.g. OCSWSSW, CNO, COTO, CRPO, CPSO, or CPO) will receive the wage differential for regulation
Successful external applicants will start at Level 1, with grid progression based on seniority up to Level 8 ($34.41 per hour for non-regulated, and $37.26 per hour for regulated)
When you'll work - 70 hours biweekly; Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm; 30-minute unpaid lunch
Your pension plan –Immediately enrolled in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
What your benefits will be – After a 90-day waiting period, will be enrolled in extended healthcare benefits
HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
Core Values / Principles
The Peer Support Program will adhere to the following values and principles:
Meet and engage peers “where they are at”
Extend unconditional high regard to peers at every point in the journey
Uphold the rights of peers to have their voices heard and valued
Treat peers with respect, and expect respect in return; support mutually beneficial relationships
Support peers to continue in their wellness journey, regardless of their diagnostic criteria and status
Realize that relating based on shared/similar experience is unparalleled in terms of therapeutic value
Recognize that peer supports have a different level of empathy than those without lived experience
Able to intentionally share aspects of one’s own story/experience, and able to show a level of vulnerability as a central component of practice
Foster self-determination, independence and resist dependencies when working with peers
Able to take chances by being honest and using direct communication with peers
Peer Support:
Act in accordance with the Guiding Standards of Peer Support (comprised of Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Values of Peer Support, Centre for Innovation in Peer Support’s Peer Support Values in Action, Peer Support Canada’s (PSC) Code of Conduct, Principles of Practice & Core Competencies)
Establish and maintain supportive relationships with people engaging with RAAM Clinic and Peer Support services
Maintain healthy boundaries within the supportive, collaborative peer working relationship
Support a person-directed care philosophy and facilitate a trauma- and violence-informed, strengths-based approach to care that emphasizes the importance of safety, respect, hope, self-determination, and empowerment
Selectively share lived/living experiences with people engaged with our services when appropriate
Act as a role model in demonstrating the ways you support yourself, including effective coping techniques and positive self-help strategies based on recovery, harm reduction, and wellness principles
Encourage people engaging with our services and support them in their wellness planning and goal achievement, including support with relapse prevention, overdose prevention, etc.
Support the development of individualized harm reduction plans, as needed
Provide services in a manner that ensures empowerment in life decisions, and actively safeguards against creating dependencies
Advocate with and, if necessary, for, people engaging with our services
Provide reassurance and support when there are experiences of crisis or distress
Support the exploration of choices and options with people engaging with our services, including the potential benefits of connecting with other community and clinical services
Encourage peer’s ideas and projects with a sensitivity to their worldview, including awareness of diversity
Use critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in collaboration with the peer to co-create new ideas and possible actions, rather than providing advice or making decisions for the peer
Support navigation of the health and social services systems, including making referrals to other supports when identified by the people engaging with our services
Provide gradual support for transition/discharge planning, and ensure opportunity for peer feedback upon program exit
Complete internal referrals and intake processes, with and, if necessary, for, peers
Create, facilitate, and evaluate social/support/life skills groups based on identified needs and interests of peers served
Assist peers navigating access to addiction treatment services, as needed
Assist peers navigating access to government programs and systems (e.g., Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, child welfare, community housing)
Support external referrals to local and culturally appropriate agencies, programs and services to meet immediate needs (e.g., housing, access to elders, mental health supports, etc.), as needed
Other duties as required
Communication & Community Partnerships:
When necessary, report on the progress of peers through effective communication and collaboration with other team members
Keep up-to-date on community resources, peer support-related topics and evidence-based practices to help inform your work
Recognize limits of knowledge when discussing areas outside of the field of wellness, thereby referring to clinical expertise when needed
Act as a resource on positive, non-stigmatizing, compassionate and hopeful language
Assist in addressing barriers, including procedural, systemic and structural, associated with/experienced by individuals navigating substance use, addiction, mental illness, and/or related complex issues
Be an active contributor to the Peer Support Program and the RAAM Program teams and related stakeholders by providing knowledge and awareness of the vital role of peer support
Foster relationships with community partners
Promote and facilitate education and awareness of our services
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:
Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements
Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed in the last six months. Interested applicants who reside in the City of London and are in need of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible as PVSCs in the City of London are currently taking approximately 2 weeks to be processed and offers of employment cannot be made without receipt of a PVSC.
We require the following qualifications:
Lived experience of substance use, treatment/rehabilitation and recovery, and maintenance of recovery
Ability to model wellness to peers and share lived-experiences
Experience providing Peer Supporter in a staff, volunteer, and/or intern capacity
Professional and/or personal experience in a substance use program/service
Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
We prefer the following qualifications:
Completed formal peer support training and education (e.g., Peer Support Canada, PeerWorks, Support House, etc.)
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (Level 1 and 2)
LivingWorks trainings: SafeTALK, ASIST, Suicide2Hope
Mental Health First Aid
Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI)
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Experience with group facilitation and adult learning practices
Knowledge of the Guiding Standards of Peer Support: Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Values of Peer Support; Centre for Innovation in Peer Support’s Peer Support Values in Action; Peer Support Canada’s Code of Conduct, Principles of Practice & Core Competencies
Knowledge of addiction treatment/rehabilitation, medicine, and recovery, as well as recovery models/tools including 12-step methods, SMART Recovery, etc.
Understanding of harm reduction supports and strategies
Training in wellness and recovery interventions
INTERNAL APPLICANTS: To be considered as an internal applicant, current staff members are reminded to apply using their @cmhatv.ca or @slwar.ca email address.
Get your application in by – August 13, 2025
Our recruitment process allows us to learn about your previous work experience, your qualifications and your commitment to fulfilling our vision. While we appreciate the interest of all applicants, only those individuals being considered for a position will be personally contacted by someone from the interview team.
We welcome and encourage applications from all members of our community including persons of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of visible minorities. If you require accommodations related to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact Human.Resources@cmhatv.ca
Legal Notifications:
For legal purposes our full business name is: Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
Artificial Intelligence is not currently employed in our recruitment processes
