Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre’s Substance Use Services provide specialized substance use assessment, treatment, and connection to internal and external community resources for patients experiencing difficulties with substance use in St. Joseph’s Emergency Department, inpatient and outpatient units. The successful candidate for the Peer Support Specialist – Substance Use Services, will be an individual with personal lived experience of addictions issues who is able to engage individuals receiving care in the Emergency Department, and/or inpatient settings. The Peer Support Specialist provides hopeful, recovery-oriented support, shares lived experience to promote wellness, and supports recovery-oriented outcomes within the Substance Use Disorder–Integrated Care Pathway (SUD-ICP) programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

Facilitates recovery by providing hope, encouragement, and supporting self-determination to individuals seeking substance use care, including those in crisis within the Emergency Department

Shares personal recovery journey and experiences to support individuals in their own recovery

Provides 1:1 support in developing personalized wellness and recovery plans, including identifying immediate needs during ED visits

Provides social, emotional, and practical support to individuals, presenting to the Emergency Department and/or inpatient units

Supports engagement and assists with de-escalation of distress using non-judgmental, recovery-oriented approaches

Collaborates with interprofessional teams, service users, and supports in the development and implementation of individualized recovery plans

Assists individuals in accessing substance use, mental health, and community supports, including navigation from ED to community services

Works to bridge the gap between service users and providers, advocating for patient needs and perspectives

Serves as a role model and provides education to staff on the lived experience perspective within ED care





Participates in care planning meetings, team huddles, and documentation in accordance with hospital standards

Participates in quality improvement, evaluation, and program development activities related to peer support services in the ED

Provides education to stakeholders regarding peer support and recovery-oriented care

Participates in ongoing professional development and networking with community peer support organizations

Qualifications

Personal lived experience of substance use issues is required

Knowledge of issues impacting individuals with substance use and concurrent challenges is required

Demonstrated ability to communicate with clients, families, service providers, and interprofessional teams

Demonstrated ability to develop helping relationships with individuals in diverse and complex situations

Ability to support individuals in crisis and use de-escalation and engagement strategies

Understanding of social determinants of health and experience working with marginalized populations

Ability to work effectively in a quick-paced, interprofessional Emergency Department environment

Facilitator training in WRAP, LifeRing, or similar programming preferred

Peer Support Specialist certification preferred

Relevant continuing education in addictions preferred

Recent peer support experience, preferably in healthcare or acute care settings, preferred

Excellent attendance and punctuality record

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.

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📌 Peer Support Specialist Addictions Medicine - St. Joseph's Health Centre (Ontario)
🏢 St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto
📍 Ontario