Phone Peer Support Volunteer
Purpose: To provide telephone peer support.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Offer support through our confidential free phone helpline open Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 5:00pm (except on national holidays).
- Provide a listening ear (telephone), and face to face (agency walk-ins) support.
- Provide support, referral information and resources through our telephone support lines
- Manage other agency incoming calls and directing to appropriate staff
- Checking agency voicemail box, and incoming email requests
- Keeping paper logs of incoming calls, and completed participant requests
Qualifications:
- Solid boundaries and good judgment
- Excellent knowledge of mental health services in Ontario or strong research skills
- Good self-awareness
- Open-mindedness and the ability to work independently
- Empathetic
- A strong desire to facilitate helping others who are reaching out to help themselves
- Excellent self care and attention to good mental health
- On the Telephone Support Line, we value diversity and we appreciate the unique insight that people who have experienced mental health and/or addiction issues may provide when offering support to peers
- Friendly telephone manner
- Day-time availability
Orientation and Training: Both training and orientation provided – dates to be determined
Time Commitment: Minimum 6 months (negotiable based on need)
Benefits:
- When you volunteer, you join a team of generous, supportive and accepting individuals. You will meet new people, make new friends, and be involved in purposeful, meaningful work.
- Receive initial training and have on-going support and training opportunities
- Receive a complimentary membership
- Learn more about mood disorders, treatments, and personal coping skills
- Have access to skill building activities such as computer work
- Build on their existing skills such as interpersonal communication, telephone skills, etc.
- Have the personal satisfaction of knowing that they are doing an important job and helping others
- TTC Tokens
Reports to: Manager, Support Programs