Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support
Direct Service – (OPSEU)
Part-Time, Contract (End date: August 13, 2026)
This posting is the result of a current vacancy.
Exeter, Ontario (South Huron Zone)

- Application Deadline: May 26, 2026 -

Peer support is a powerful opportunity for a person living with a mental health need and/or addiction challenge to connect with someone who has experienced a similar challenge and has gone through their own wellness and recovery journey. The expertise and lived experience of the Peer Support Worker can give the peer a unique perspective on supporting a personal sense of wellness and recovery. The commonality of, “I get it. I have been there too,” can build an authentic, therapeutic rapport of empowerment and hope.
As an Addiction and Mental Health Worker, Peer Support you’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team at a site or within a community-based program to support peers working towards wellness, using your own lived experience to facilitate groups and provide individualized support.

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); for internal applicants, grid level placement will occur as per the Collective Agreement
• When you'll work - 10 hours over two-week period, between Monday to Friday, 9:00-4:00pm
• Your pension plan –Immediately eligible for optional enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• What your benefits will be – 9% in lieu of benefits

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

• 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

Direct Service:

• • Utilize own lived experience (intentionally sharing own path to wellness and self-discovery as well as knowledge of services and potential resources) to support participants in their journey.
  • Practice and model the values, evidence-based core competencies, and standards of practice endorsed by Peer Support Canada
  • Facilitate a trauma-and-violence-informed, strengths-based approach to care that emphasizes the importance of hope, self-determination, and empowerment.
  • Maintain healthy boundaries within the supportive, collaborative peer working relationship.
  • Facilitate one on one and social/support/life skills groups based on recovery and wellness principles for participants in hospital and in community.
  • Provide active, supportive listening and assistance with wellness planning, including support with advocacy as needed
  • Ensure compliance with agency Privacy, Confidentiality, and Code of Ethics policies and procedures, as well as the Peer Support Canada Code of Conduct
  • Identify and respond to the concerns of peers experiencing mental illness, substance abuse, trauma and/or homelessness.
  • Assist peers to connect to other community resources through experiential knowledge.
  • Ensure groups provide a safe and accepting space where peers can gather to support themselves and each other in a mutually beneficial way
  • Ensure OPOC satisfaction survey is completed by peers; assist as necessary

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO APPLY:
Police Vulnerable Sector Check Requirements
Successful candidates must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) completed within the last six months. In order to avoid delays in beginning a position, interested applicants who are in need of a PVSC are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible.

We require the following qualifications:

• Ontario Secondary School diploma (primary proof of credentials will be required during the hiring process i.e. original degree/diploma or official transcript)
• Current, satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
• Demonstrated ability to attend work regularly

We prefer the following qualifications:

• Bilingual both official languages, preferred; une préférence sera accordée aux personnes possédant des compétences dans les deux langues officielles du Canada
• Completed peer support training, education, or certification through Peer Support Canada, PeerWorks, Support House, etc., or equivalent
• Training in wellness and recovery interventions
• Successful completion of Level 1 of the OPDI certification
• Completion of the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) program or a willingness to participate in the program
• One of: SafeTALK, ASIST (Applied Suicide Interventions Skills and Training), or Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
• Current CPR and First Aid certification
• Mental Health First Aid

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 – May 26, 2026:

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

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