ABOUT US

St. Leonard’s Community Services has been an established part of the community for more than 50 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults, and families within the communities we serve.

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

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Agency’s Addiction and Mental Health Services include provision of peer support to individuals aged 16 + who experience addiction 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 group. 

This Peer Support position is within the Withdrawal Management and Treatment Services (WMTS) programs. This includes an 18-bed facility (7 withdrawal management beds for any gender and 11 men’s residential treatment beds) and a 10-bed residential treatment facility for women.  Though your primary assignment will be at the women’s residential treatment program, you will work collaboratively with the Peer Support staff at the other facility to support all clients accessing WMTS services.  As part of an interdisciplinary team, 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 residential environment uniquely positions the Peer Support Worker to build supportive relationships with their peers, creating a strong foundation to attain their recovery goals.  You make a difference!

As a Peer Support Worker, 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 mental health challenges
• 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

Hours of work: Sunday to Thursday (Sunday 10 am – 530 pm, Monday 2 – 930 pm, Tuesday 1230 – 8 pm, Wednesday 2 – 930 pm, and Thursday 2 pm – 930 pm).

Training: Initial comprehensive training related to all aspects of the role, as well as access to ongoing professional development

COMPENSATION and BENEFITS

Annual salary:  starting at $42,530 plus comprehensive benefits and shift premiums (additional premium of $1 per hour after 5 p.m. during the week and on all hours worked on weekends).

The Perks

• Fitness Benefit for gym memberships, exercise equipment and lessons for various physical activities for all staff and their families
• Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
• Paid Time Off for all staff
• Fun events for all staff
• Participation in RSP/TFSA plans for all staff, with Agency pension match for Full Time and eligible Part Time staff
• Group health, vision, dental and travel insurance plans where premiums are 100% paid by the Agency for Full Time staff
• An Agency committed to ensuring your physical and mental health/safety is paramount

REQUIREMENTS and QUALIFICATIONS

• Have lived experience using the Substance Use and/or Mental Health system
• Have a college diploma in any field
• Be able to be a positive role model, sharing what allowed you to recover, while respecting the individual choices of others
• Be proficient in MS Office and be familiar with databases
• Have access to reliable transportation
• Be able to manage frequent exposure to vicarious trauma
• Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19

In a cover letter, please explain how your own personal lived experience with addictions and mental health relates to this position, including your experience in recovery.

Start date: As soon as possible

St. Leonard’s Community Services Inc. 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.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.