Appendix C: Sample peer supporter job postings

Job posting information

Job description and qualifications

The campus peer supporter will provide group support to students on campus using a peer support model. In this role, the campus peer supporter will be provided with extensive training that will teach effective and proven techniques for supporting a peer, including the principles of peer support, communication and support skills, making sense of our own experiences, suicide awareness, resources on campus, as well as boundaries and ethics.

The campus peer supporter will meet with students in a drop-in, group setting. They will provide support, education and information to students about appropriate resources both on and off campus. The campus peer supporter will be expected to exercise good judgment and critical thinking skills, even under stressful situations, and must be able to recognize limitations of their role.

This individual will be expected to attend all required trainings, including monthly community of practice meetings with their fellow campus peer supporters and supervisors. This individual will be expected to maintain ongoing communication with a supervisor in person and by email and telephone.

Peer support shifts will run Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with peers alternating to cover shifts each week. Community of practice meetings (group supervision) will happen Fridays from 10-12 p.m. Peer supporters will need to be available during these times.

Position type: Student peer mentor/ambassador

Relevant anticipated competencies (These are competencies to be gained from this position and will be verified at the end of the term):

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Fostering inclusivity and equity
• Goal setting and prioritization
• Personal health and wellness
• Reflective thinking
• Social intelligence

Areas of interest that apply to this opportunity:

• Community outreach and volunteerism
• Health and wellness
• Leadership opportunities

Description to appear on the co-curricular record: The Health & Wellness Centre campus peer
supporter co-facilitated weekly peer support drop-in groups for students on campus regarding mental health and well-being and offered resources and supports available on and off campus. This individual completed extensive training for the role from the UTSC Health & Wellness Centre and Mood Disorders Association of Ontario and actively attended community of practice meetings.

We are recruiting for a Peer navigator (Conestoga College)
– This is a full-time permanent role (35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
based at Conestoga College (299 Doon Valley Dr., Kitchener)

Self Help & Peer support is a service that specifically focuses on providing information, referral and
support groups from a lived experience perspective. The purpose of this position is to effectively provide
peer support services to students at Conestoga College. Duties include: providing individualized peer
support to students; developing and facilitating peer support and recovery skill groups tailored to meet
the needs of students living with mental health and/or addiction issues; working as a part of the college’s
student success team, which includes academic and accessibility advisors, counsellors, and medical staff;
and liaising with college staff to promote lived experience perspectives of mental health and addictions
recovery. This position reports to the manager of Self help & Peer Support, with day-to-day contact with
Conestoga’s manager of counselling services or designate.

The successful candidate will possess knowledge, experience and skills related to the following:

• Identifies as someone who has or does experience an addictions and/or mental health issue and has experience with the addictions and mental health system, in addition to having encountered mental health and/or addiction issues during post-secondary studies
• Ability to provide peer support to college students who have the lived experience of a mental health and/or addiction issue
• Minimum one year of experience providing peer support and an additional year of experience working in a mental health setting or related occupation such as community, social service worker, peer worker or equivalent experience
• Experience in group facilitation skills and group development
  • Ability to build strong relationships with college staff and students and work as a part of an interdisciplinary team
• Excellence in written and oral communication
• Strong organizational skills
  • Ability to work independently, with minimal direct supervision
• Knowledge of available resources throughout Waterloo Region and Wellington County
• Understanding of the recovery and peer support values, and knowledge of best practices in peer support
• Proficiency in all Microsoft computer programs including Word, Excel, Publisher, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Bachelor’s degree or two-year college diploma in a social science or health-related discipline
• Peer Support Canada certification, or a willingness to obtain
• Flexibility in scheduling, including evenings and weekends if required
• Valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle as some travel is required to Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge and rural Waterloo/Wellington

Please submit a resume and cover letter, outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience meet the position requirements with reference to….

The purpose of the Be Well Do Well Peer Mentor Program is to connect caring and trained college peers with students with mental health issues to support them in creating and maintaining a healthy and successful college experience. Support, connection, encouragement and resources that are strength and resiliency-based are offered to facilitate wellness and academic success.

Responsibilities

• Develop supportive one-on-one peer mentoring relationships with assigned students who identify
  as having mental health issues
• Help students uncover their own solutions for wellness through support, reflective listening and
  providing information and resources
• Support students with their personal wellness and resilience by encouraging healthy lifestyle
  choices, good problem-solving skills, positive coping, goal setting and use of personal strengths
• Link students to both community and college supports as required
• Respond to any mentee mental health crises or urgent situations by following the Be Well Do Well Peer Mentor Program procedures
• Support mentees in attending various college wellness activities
• Create and deliver mental health wellness workshops in the areas of resilience and positive
  psychology for the college community
• Promote the Be Well Do Well Peer Mentor Program through outreach activities including social
  media initiatives
• Meet weekly for supervision with the program counselling supervisor to review progress, problems and strengthen knowledge and skills
• Attend all mandatory orientation training and ongoing training
• Complete mentor meeting contact logs as per program procedures
• Complete program evaluation tools
• Adhere to professional boundaries and engage in professional ethical mentoring behaviour by acting within the scope of a mentoring relationship
• Maintain strict confidentiality
• Understand and abide by relevant Mohawk College policies

Skills and qualities

• Full-time student at Mohawk College
• In good academic and student conduct standing
• Strong rapport-building, organizational, listening and presentation skills
• Insight into personal limitations and strengths
• Act as a good role model for self-care, wellness and resiliency
• Able to identify and support solution finding in others and comfortable with providing feedback
• Abe to provide non-judgmental support
• Able to identify opportunities for learning and growth
• Culturally sensitive and value diversity