Peer Support Worker

Are you passionate about leveraging your lived experience with mental health, substance use, poverty, homelessness and / or food insecurity to make a meaningful impact? Do you possess the skills to bridge cultural connections and provide both immediate assistance and comprehensive guidance? If so, we encourage you to apply today and contribute your dedication and innovative ideas to The Alex, where you can help create a supportive and culturally enriching environment for our community.

What We Do:

Since , The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.

The Street Team provides proactive outreach to individuals who are disconnected from traditional services, combining social work and peer support to deliver harm reduction supplies, crisis response, referrals, and naloxone training and distribution.

Reporting to the Team Lead and working collaboratively with the broader team of professionals at The Alex, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) draws upon their own lived experience to encourage and empower individuals who are living with addictions, mental health, physical health, and social complexities. Working from a recovery orientated framework with principles of harm reduction and trauma-informed care, the Peer Support Worker will provide immediate assistance for clients to access basic needs, and support to navigate health and social support. Additionally, this role will support programs, engage community members, and respond to critical incidents.

This is a full-time, contract position until approx. Dec 1, .

Cover letters are highly encouraged.

What You Will Do:

• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals to provide culturally appropriate, holistic, episodic care to vulnerable populations in our community.
• Ensure clients and professionals are welcomed promptly, appropriately, and are supported effectively.
• Provide support during crisis/emergency situations by utilizing de-escalation techniques and/or motivational interviewing skills as appropriate.
• Offer an empathetic, listening ear to clients.
• Engage in supportive conversation with clients to explore, coordinate, advocate and connect to internal and external services and resources designed to meet the clients’ needs.
• Be a creative problem solver and have the ability to think outside the box in order to help clients achieve success where they formerly have not.
• Assist clients with needs related to housing, entitlements/benefits, employment, education, and community integration.
• Adhere to Peer Support Canada’s Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice.
• Provide client-centered and culturally informed services.
• Support and assist with group programming for participants and staff relevant to lived experience.
• Complete data collection and documentation with precision, adhering to agency policies and procedures.
• Support and attend client appointments on and off site.
• Maintain client confidentiality and clear boundaries.
• Represent the program and the agency in the community in a professional manner
• Operate an Alex fleet vehicle safely to support program delivery, including occasional transportation of clients to approved community destinations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What You Bring:

• Completion of the CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support course considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated commitment in peer support context working with individuals with health concerns, which may include and focus on mental health, substance use, poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.
• Lived experience navigating the health and social care systems is an asset.
• Superior engagement skills and excitement for new opportunities.
• Base level computer skills.
• Comfortable working independently and as a part of a team.
• Ability to contribute to a positive work environment and team culture.
• High level of initiative and self-motivation.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• High level of self-awareness.
• Determined and committed to excellence.
• Training in any of the following is considered an asset: Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Mental Health First Aid, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Working knowledge base of local resources for housing, mental health, addiction, community support, finances, etc.
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, and clean 3-year drivers abstract are required.
• Minimum of 21 years of age and three years of driving experience is required to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and child welfare intervention check are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.

Work Environment and Hours:

• The Alex Community Health Centre ( – 2Ave SE, Calgary, AB) and outreach.
• Standard hours are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs / week).
• Continuously requires extended periods of sitting, standing and walking.
• Occasionally requires driving as part of work duties.
• Occasionally involves physical action requiring the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (less than 20 Ibs) frequently throughout the shift.
• Frequent time outside in all weather conditions.