Peer Support Worker

Position Summary: The Peer Support Worker is a temporary position reporting directly to the Health Director or designate through the Maggie Willier Health and Wellness Department. The Peer Support Worker is responsible for providing culturally safe, non-judgmental, strengths-based support to individuals and families affected by substance use, overdose risk, trauma, mental health challenges, or recovery needs. This position supports Strong Roots: Strengthening Community Capacity for Healing and Recovery, a Maggie Willier Health and Wellness Department initiative that will enhance substance use and overdose response capacity through training, outreach, peer-led support, and community education. The Peer Support Worker will assist with evening peer support programming, mobile outreach, wellness check-ins, harm reduction education, recovery support, and referrals to appropriate services. The Peer Support Worker will use lived experience, community connection, training, and relationship-building to help participants feel heard, supported, and connected. This role does not provide clinical counselling, therapy, or medical care. The Peer Support Worker will work as part of a broader health and wellness team, including cultural supports, community programs, frontline staff, and partner agencies, to support safety, healing, belonging, and recovery. Key Responsibilities: Peer Support and Recovery Support * Provide non-judgmental peer support to individuals and families affected by substance use, overdose risk, trauma, or recovery needs. * Offer encouragement, practical support, and connection to help participants identify their own wellness and recovery goals. * Build trusting relationships with participants through respectful listening, consistency, confidentiality, and cultural humility. * Support participants in accessing appropriate community, cultural, health, mental health, addictions, housing, social, or emergency services. * Provide follow-up support where appropriate to help reduce isolation and strengthen connection to services and community supports. Evening Peer Support Program * Assist with the delivery of evening peer support sessions in a safe, welcoming, and trauma-informed environment. * Support participants during group sessions, sharing circles, wellness activities, and culturally grounded recovery activities. * Help prepare spaces, supplies, sign-in sheets, refreshments, and materials for evening programming. * Work with staff, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partner agencies to support culturally appropriate programming. * Identify participant needs and communicate concerns to the appropriate supervisor or support team. Mobile Outreach and Harm Reduction * Participate in mobile outreach activities, including wellness check-ins and community-based support. * Provide harm reduction information, basic supplies, and overdose prevention education as directed by program guidelines. * Support community members in accessing Naloxone training, recovery resources, and crisis supports. * Assist with outreach to members who may experience barriers to accessing services, including transportation, isolation, stigma, or after-hours needs. * Maintain appropriate boundaries and follow safety procedures during outreach activities. Community Education and Awareness * Support community education sessions related to substance use, harm reduction, overdose prevention, recovery, stigma reduction, and wellness. * Assist with preparing and distributing plain-language information materials. * Encourage respectful community conversations that promote compassion, understanding, and shared responsibility for healing and recovery. * Support awareness events, workshops, open sessions, and community gatherings connected to the Strong Roots initiative. Cultural Safety and Community Wellness * Support culturally grounded approaches to healing, wellness, and recovery. * Work respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, staff, families, and community members. * Follow Driftpile Cree Nation cultural protocols, values, and community safety principles. * Support participants in accessing cultural wellness activities, land-based gatherings, and traditional supports where appropriate. * Help create an environment that is safe, respectful, inclusive, and free from lateral violence, discrimination, stigma, or harassment. Administration and Reporting * Maintain accurate records, including attendance, outreach contacts, activity summaries, referrals, and participant feedback. * Protect participant privacy and confidentiality in accordance with DCN policies and program requirements. * Assist with tracking supplies, preparing materials, and documenting program activities. * Provide updates to the supervisor regarding participant needs, emerging issues, safety concerns, and program successes. * Support reporting requirements connected to the Strong Roots initiative as needed. Health, Safety, and Boundaries * Follow DCN policies, safety procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional boundaries at all times. * Recognize when a participant requires clinical, medical, mental health, addictions, child welfare, housing, or emergency support and refer appropriately. * Respond to concerns in a calm, respectful, trauma-informed manner. * Participate in required training such as Naloxone, Mental Health First Aid, trauma-informed care, Wellbriety, and other relevant training. * Report safety concerns, incidents, or risks to the supervisor in accordance with DCN procedures. Qualifications and Experience * Lived experience related to recovery, substance use, mental health, grief, trauma, homelessness, family wellness, or system navigation is considered an asset. * Experience supporting individuals, families, youth, or community members in a helping role is an asset. * Experience working with Indigenous communities and understanding of Cree culture, traditions, and community protocols is an asset. * Training in peer support, harm reduction, overdose prevention, Naloxone, trauma-informed care, Mental Health First Aid, Wellbriety, or related areas is an asset. * Equivalent combinations of experience, training, and community knowledge may be considered. Skills and Competencies * Strong interpersonal and communication skills. * Ability to listen without judgment and build trust with participants. * Understanding of confidentiality, personal boundaries, and respectful support. * Ability to work with people experiencing crisis, grief, trauma, substance use, or complex life situations. * Strong problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm in challenging situations. * Ability to work independently and as part of a team. * Basic documentation and record-keeping skills. * Commitment to cultural safety, inclusion, harm reduction, recovery, and community wellness. Additional Requirements * Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is preferred. * Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by programming. * Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check. * Intervention Record Check may be required. * Willingness to complete required training. * Commitment to upholding Driftpile Cree Nation’s values, policies, confidentiality requirements, and community safety principles. Working Conditions * Combination of office-based work, community-based programming, evening sessions, and mobile outreach. * Regular working hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM * Some work may occur after regular office hours, including evenings and weekends. * May involve supporting individuals experiencing crisis, grief, trauma, substance use, or emotional distress. * Moderate physical activity may be required, including setting up program spaces, transporting supplies, and assisting with outreach activities. This position plays an important role in strengthening community-based recovery support, reducing stigma, increasing access to harm reduction and wellness resources, and supporting long-term healing and resilience through the Maggie Willier Health and Wellness Department. Agreement Length: Temporary One-Year Term 2026-2027 Application Deadline: Until a suitable candidate has been selected Please provide a copy of your current Criminal Record Check and Intervention Record Check upon the interview. To apply, please submit your resume to the following link: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=420a791b-3310-4960-bcc0-67ae848a9a5d&ccId=19000101_000001&type=JS&lang=en_CA [https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=420a791b-3310-4960-bcc0-67ae848a9a5d&ccId=19000101_000001&type=JS&lang=en_CA] **Please be advised only suitable applicants will be notified**

Provide non-judgmental, culturally safe support to individuals and families dealing with substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges. Deliver evening peer support programming, mobile outreach, and harm reduction education to strengthen community recovery capacity.

Lived experience with recovery or mental health and experience in a helping role are highly valued assets. Candidates should possess strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to cultural safety, with a valid driver's license and required security clearances.

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Peer Support
• Harm Reduction
• Crisis Intervention
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Interpersonal Communication
• Cultural Humility
• Case Documentation
• Relationship Building
• Overdose Prevention
• Community Outreach
• Problem Solving
• Active Listening

• Social Services
• Healthcare
• Government & Public Sector

Minimum experience

0+ years

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week