Peer Support Worker_PT-Contract

Title of Job: Peer Support Worker
Date: July 22, 2026
Closing Date: August 5, 2026
Location: Toronto, ON – Transitional Aged Youth Program (TAY)
Compensation: $52,022 - $61,821 Annually Prorated
Contract Duration: 3-Year Contract
Work Hours: 21hrs/week
Work Type: Onsite
Job ID: 10925815
Existing or New Position: New

Who We Are:
LOFT Community Services is a unique and dynamic charitable organization that supports people living with complicated issues such as mental and physical health challenges, substance use challenges, poverty and homelessness. Serving approximately 19,534 annually and providing 1,839 units of supportive housing last year, LOFT is one of Ontario’s largest mental health service providers of its kind. LOFT is also recognized as a Nonprofit Employer of Choice™ Award (NEOC) recipient.

Program Summary:
The Toronto Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Services support youth 16-29 years old from diverse communities. Through empathetic and hopeful relationships, TAY engages and supports the youth, and helps them to build upon strengths towards optimal wellbeing and greater independence. TAY takes a holistic approach, embracing the mind, body and soul to ensure each person receives services in response to their unique needs.

Job Summary:
The Peer Support Worker position is open to those whom have lived experience with mental health and/or addiction and have gone through a process of recovery. The peer mentor is responsible to use their lived experience to assist others in the recovery process and to navigate the mental health and addiction systems. This would be accomplished through a variety of activities such as group facilitation, individual support with appointments and structured positive relationship building.

The Peer Support Worker aims to provide peer mentorship and employment navigation support, so youth service-users can achieve a sense of autonomy, gain confidence, and build connections with job readiness programs and employment-related opportunities. The Peer Support Worker will have a unique role collaborating with the community and other health and social service providers with a specific focus on organizing job coaching & mentorship sessions, job readiness workshops, and facilitating access to other employment supports.  The peer support worker shall provide 1:1 peer support and help co-facilitate these groups for youth. The program requires availability to work evenings and Saturdays.

What You Will Do:

• Provide community-based support by accompanying clients to appointments and helping them access local resources and services.
• Build supportive relationships with clients, offering guidance, encouragement, emotional support, and assistance with goal setting and problem solving.
• Promote client safety, wellness, recovery, and independence through individualized support and positive role modeling.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate mental health, recovery, and treatment-focused groups and support drop-in programs across various community locations.
• Collaborate with program staff, caseworkers, and community partners to ensure coordinated and effective client care.
• Assist with referrals and maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources and support services.
• Contribute to program development, implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Attend training sessions, team meetings, and regular supervision to support professional growth and service quality.
• Support program operations, including setting up and dismantling group activities and maintaining clean, welcoming program spaces.

What You Bring:

• Completion of Peer Support Training or a related certification.
• Experience / knowledge of mental health and addiction service systems, and community-based supports.
• Solid working experience in peer support counselling and recovery principles.
• Strong interpersonal communication, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, goal-setting abilities and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Proficient in the use of computers and standard workplace software applications.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to respond to changing program and client needs.

Work Environment:

• Walk up and down stairs, physically able to assit client with daily living activities
• 10-20% travel to different locations with transit and/or own vehicle, outdoor travel
• Lifting objects up to 50lbs.

What We Offer:

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• E-learning program available all year round
• Professional development budget available to help you nurture and shape your career
• Corporate Gym membership rate with GoodLife Fitness
• Access to Perkopolis, a comprehensive corporate discount program
• Access to unlimited DEI trainings through partnership Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
LOFT Community Services is a values-driven organization with a deep belief that each person has the ability to grow and change. We value compassion, collaboration, and community delivered with dignity, innovation, and excellence. LOFT’s vision is that together, we can all live successfully in our community. Our client population reflects Ontario’s diverse community and it is LOFT’s goal to build a workforce who also reflects that diversity. LOFT believes there are many ways to develop skills and build experience and expertise. So even if you don’t “tick all the boxes” but think you’d thrive in this role, you are encouraged to apply.

Notes:

• The program requires support during evenings and Saturdays.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector check (VSC) is also required.
• This posting provides only a summary of the responsibilities and requirements for the position