Balancing Bipolar Supporter

The Balancing Bipolar Peer Supporter functions as a positive role model to clients with bipolar disorder; demonstrating competency in personal recovery and use of evidence-based self-management strategies. They provide clients in inpatient or outpatient settings with resources, support and advocacy from a consumer perspective. The Balancing Bipolar Peer Supporter performs varied tasks to assist clients in re-establishing connection within their community and self-determination in their recovery process.This is a casual contractor position with hours dependent on the number of clients in the program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Meet one-on-one with clients in-person, over-the-phone, or via Skype
• Model effective, evidence-based coping techniques and self-management strategies
• Provide clients with practical and emotional support
• Actively assist clients in identifying and creating recovery goals and to aid them in achieving those goals
• Assist clients in accessing community integration activities and services and provide clients with referrals as required
• Facilitate self-determination and empowerment by supporting, respecting, and encouraging clients to make their own informed choices and promote the concept of collaborative care
• Collaborate with other mental health professionals in providing support if necessary with client’s written consent excepting cases in which the peer supporter has a “duty to warn”
• Keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to bipolar disorder, comorbid conditions, and recovery
• Maintain an awareness of current community resources including health care services, social, economic, recreational, employment, educational services and resources, and other agencies
• Provide weekly client progress notes to the program supervisor
• Administer client questionnaires
• Complete all other required paperwork
• Attend monthly peer support team meetings
• Adhere to the Peer Supporter Code of Ethics

Qualifications and Skills

• Lived experience with a mental health condition, preferably bipolar disorder
• Lived experience of accessing the mental health systems, especially the North Shore
• Recent related work experience
• Thorough knowledge of mental health recovery and harm reduction principles
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice
• First Aid/CPR
• Ability to effectively and safely resolve crisis situations
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport and appropriate boundaries with clients
• Ability to promote positive change and independence
• Completion of a recognized Peer Support Worker training program or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience; PSACC certification (or in progress) an asset
• Willingness to complete bipolar-specific peer support training
• Understanding and applied anti-oppression practice including an ability to work with a culturally diverse population
• Second language an asset
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to communicate empathy effectively over-the-phone
• Ability to use Skype
• Working knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and the internet

$15.00/hr

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Lisa Fedorak at lisa.fedorak@cmha.bc.ca