Integrated Child and Youth Peer Support Worker

Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) Peer Support Worker

As a core ICY team member, the ICY Peer Support Worker offers peer‑based mentoring and emotional support to youth ages 12‑19. The worker collaborates with youth, their families, and the care team to help young people set and achieve self‑identified goals, navigate systems, and connect with community resources.

(This is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed.)

• Establish a purposeful relationship with youth, families and friends, encouraging informed decision making while creating a non‑judgmental environment through shared experiences and insights.
• Provide support that aligns with ICY practice principles: culturally safe, trauma‑informed, child/youth/family centred, Nation/community centred, and inclusive of youth who identify as part of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
• Support youths’ recovery through selective motivational and supportive self‑disclosure, sharing personal recovery experiences and strategies for wellness.
• Encourage and support youth to become active participants in their health and school community.
• Advocate for youth and accompany them to appointments when requested.
• Support systems navigation and resource distribution to youth.
• Facilitate or co‑facilitate groups for children, youth and families as needed.
• Work in an integrated way within a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with organizational, community and hospital‑based teams.
• Access supervision for regular consultation, learning and reflection.
• Participate in integrated care planning conferences, team meetings, case reviews and organizational initiatives.
• Engage in training opportunities, evaluation, quality improvement and research activities as required.
• Complete and maintain related records and documentation for the organization and ICY teams.
• Facilitate youth engagement in focus groups, workshops, surveys and related activities.

• Grade 12 graduation, Dogwood or completion certificate, plus at least one year of related experience working with youth and young adults with mental health and/or substance use issues or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Completion of the BC Campus Provincial Peer Training Curriculum.
• Completion of a recognized Youth Peer Support‑Training Program.
• Lived understanding of mental illness and/or substance use.
• Lived experience and/or understanding of equity, diversity and inclusive practices (Indigenous, anti‑racism, LGBTQ2+) as it relates to the local population.
• Establish rapport and maintain respectful relationships with young people and family members.
• Empathic, compassionate, with good listening skills and creative thinking.
• Observe and recognize changes in youth and communicate those changes to the care team.
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
• Self‑awareness and capacity to apply appropriate boundaries and maintain confidentiality.
• Promote positive change and independence.
• Self‑starter with a positive attitude, able to advocate for self and others.
• Knowledge of social, mental health and substance use services available in the community.
• Knowledge of systemic issues and risk factors facing minority groups including LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous youth and young adults, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism.
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making skills; ability to gather and process information to support the organization and its team.
• Communication skills, ability to speak, listen and write clearly, thoroughly and professionally.
• Organizational and time‑management skills, accountability, reliability and punctuality.
• Ability to work independently and show initiative as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Basic computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• As travel is a requirement of this position, the incumbent must have access to a vehicle.

This is a permanent, in‑person 30‑hour per week position (10:30 am – 5:00 pm), year round. The position is unionized with CUPE local 716. Successful employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes extended health and dental care, municipal pension plan, paid leave and more.

Richmond School District is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community. Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, 2

SLGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.