At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!
Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!
The Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic is a walk-in clinic for those concerned with their substance use and seeking support. We provide low-barrier, quick access to addiction medicine providers, addiction counsellors and peer workers for individuals looking to explore or make changes to their substance use. Peer Workers are the first point of contact for individuals accessing RAAM and share their own, personal, lived experience with substance use and recovery as a means of providing support and connecting with others experiencing similar challenges.
This is a permanent, part-time position with paid personal days and vacation pay. Schedule is every other weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Option to pick up additional shifts throughout the week as needed and as available. Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) required pre-employment.
Key Responsibilities:
Greet and welcome participants, build rapport, and create a comfortable and judgement-free atmosphere while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
Frontline de-escalation and conflict resolution to support individuals experiencing challenges related to mental health and addiction
Willingness to share personal journey with addiction and recovery in a common area on an ongoing basis
Manage individual caseload (average 6-10 participants), providing individual and system-navigation support; this may involve actively supporting participants with entering other programs
Act as a role model for self care and self-awareness
Use a person-centered approach to provide participants with appropriate information on resources in the community
Work with/have access to confidential material and maintain compliance with Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)
Facilitate completion of urinary drug screening
Work as part of an interdisciplinary team, supporting the participant process, advocating for participants needs, etc.
Participation and involvement in other programs, Addiction Services and broader agency activities. Building and maintaining relationships with other programs and organizations within the community
Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:
Sensitivity to and knowledge of issues relating to and impacting on all genders and marginalized populations
Strong understanding of interpersonal skills and the ability to engage in meaningful conversations to develop rapport with individuals who use substances using a strength-based approach
Demonstrated capacity for accurate and efficient documentation and computer data entry
Demonstrated ability to calmly problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment
Strong communication and listening skills
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team
Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected.
Commitment to and understanding of the Core Values of Peer Support and the Peer Support Code of Conduct
Ability to accept and apply feedback and take initiative
Extensive knowledge of community resources, service and support programs/groups, and barriers participants face in accessing them
Commitment to ongoing professional development and training
Education/Experience:
Minimum College Diploma or University Degree in related field of study required (i.e. social services, social work, addictions, mental health, community development etc.)
Peer Support Certification would be considered an asset
Has had lived experience with substance use and addiction
Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of substances, problematic substance use and recovery oriented interventions required
Experience with or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation, program design, evaluations of processes and service delivery
Critical Skills:
Comfort sharing personal experiences with others to inspire hope
Ability to manage difficult emotions/triggers prompted by listening to participant’s experiences
Ability to work effectively in a wide range of settings including interdisciplinary teams, outreach, RAAM Clinics, hospitals, and other community agencies
Willingness to learn and be adaptable as programs grow and evolve
Opportunity to participate in program development on an as-needed basis
Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem-solving skills required
Possess the skill and confidence to navigate and support persons in crisis situations
Demonstrated ability to make good decisions and problem solve complex situations
Ability to establish rapport and build appropriate professional relationships
Professional, approachable and welcoming demeanor
Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental illness and other life challenges
Excellent project, timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics, planning and detailed record keeping
Compensation:
At House of Friendship, we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the community. In support of our mission and in alignment with our values, House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair, market competitive, and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive, succeed, and have a positive work experience.
House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid, have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.
We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:
Time off includes vacation pay and 3 personal days per year
We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members, including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program
We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account
Rate of Pay:
At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration.
Grade: 4
Min: $23.43
Mid: $26.72
Max: $29.48
Working Conditions:
Successful candidate will be required to have their own lived experience with substance use and recovery
Comfort sharing your own experiences with others
Required to work intensively with program participants in emotionally charged situations
Required to assess situations and make decisions under pressure with minimal supervision or while working alone
Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected
This role is being posted to fill a current vacancy.
House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.
House of Friendship supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive, work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team, and therefore our community, can truly belong and thrive.
We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including, but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process, including applying for this position, please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.
If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:
https://house-of-friendship.hirehive.com/peer-worker-raam-kitchener-on-fcp4Sf
By end of day June 24, 2026.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not being used in the screening of applications.
