Peer Support Coordinator- HOPE

Title: HOPE, and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator

Part-Time Contract Position

Position Summary:

The Helping Other Parents Excel, HOPE, program is funded in part through grants and donations as well as Vanier Lead Agency funds. HOPE services are based on the peer support model and provide parents and caregivers support from a peer lens. Our ideal candidate is a parent or guardian of children with mental health, social/emotional and behavioural challenges, as they are a valuable resource for supporting other families coping with similar problems. The HOPE and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator could be a parent of a child/youth who has experience with mental health, social/emotional and/or behavioural challenges who is familiar with the children’s mental health, social services, and education systems in Ontario.

The HOPE and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator supports client and family engagement activities within Vanier and across the London Middlesex Child and Youth Mental Health sector. Engagement can include surveys, co-design process work, and requires excellent interpersonal skills with strong communication and network building to support the development of trusted relationships. Experience working in a project environment will be beneficial. Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness, as a Lead Agency, facilitates client and family engagement activities within Middlesex County for all core Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMH). The HOPE, and Client & Family Engagement Coordinator reports to the Lead Agency Supervisor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide peer support to parents as required, including attending meetings, writing letters, providing information/resources to assist in advocacy.

• Provide direction, resources, and support to those acting as parent mentors
• Coordinate the provision of group and 1:1 peer support
• Coordinate the provision of group and 1:1 engagement
• Liaison with other parent groups in the community, maintain communication with engagement members and internal CYMH programs
• Facilitate information sharing between parents and parent groups, schools, community groups
• Work to gain a strong understanding of the CYMH needs, and feedback from parents and guardians, along with children and youth on the CYMH service system including gaps, issues and opportunities for improvement
• Write reports, grant applications, and prepare presentations to Board of Directors
• Prepare bi-monthly reports on family feedback and trends for Executive Director
• Lead facilitation of Family Advisory Panel
• Develop effective relationships and collaborative working styles with community stakeholders, clients and support networks
• Support client engagement on services and projects
• Review client satisfaction feedback and support quality improvement initiatives
• Implement Client and Family Engagement Plan for London Middlesex
• Provide peer support to parents as required, including attending meetings, writing letters, providing information/resources to assist in advocacy
• Respond to email requests for information/service
• Perform research via the internet on publicly available information to assist parent advocacy (ex. Education Act as pertains to special education, Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, Ontario Human Rights Commission, etc.)
• Maintain compendium of parent resource materials

Qualifications

Education

• Post-secondary education in a social services discipline (e.g., Child and Youth Care, Social Service Worker, Early Childhood Education, or a related field) is preferred.
• Two years’ experience working or volunteering with children or adults preferred
• Fluency in French is an asset

Experience

• Parents of children with mental health, social/emotional and behavioural challenges are a valuable resource for supporting other families coping with similar problems.
• Community engagement experience, and comfort growing engagement groups as required. Including but not limited to cold calling clients for feedback, sending surveys and completing analysis of results, project support and strong organizational skills.
• Preference will be given to applicants with peer support training and strong facilitation skills.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prepare meeting minutes, reports, templates, and correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Experience using virtual meetings and scheduling platforms is an asset.

Hours of Work:

• 21 hours per week

Reports to

Clinical Manager

Please note that Vanier does not use Artificial Intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants.

Existing Vacancy

Vanier is committed to building a diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages women, 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability and members of visible minority groups to apply.

Vanier is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection and appointment processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to this process, please advise the organization's representative of your need for accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Vanier is committed to taking every reasonable precaution to protect employees, our clients/families and the healthcare systems in the communities in which we serve.

While we appreciate your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.