The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) exists to improve the lives of Ontario’s caregivers and make it easier for them to be caregivers. The OCO is dedicated to caregivers and their needs, regardless of their age, location or the condition of the person they are caring for. 

Come join our growing team!

We are recruiting for a

Program Lead – Peer Support and Young Caregivers

Full Time – Hybrid in 2022

The Program Lead – Peer Support and Young Caregivers will oversee the planning, delivery, growth and evaluation of peer-based support resources and programs for adult and young caregivers. We are looking for someone who is self directed and enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where they will help to improve caregiver access to services and support, grow the number of caregivers served by OCO, and address caregiver needs.

For this role, we are looking for an experienced professional with deep knowledge in understanding peer support and the emotional needs of adult and young caregivers (15-25 years of age). The successful candidate will have demonstrated skills in training, managing, and supporting peer volunteers, managing 1:1 peer mentor and support group programs that may involve occasional support group facilitation coverage, moderating online communities, working with community partners and stakeholders, and working as part of a team to grow participation and engage with caregivers to improve and innovate ways to provide peer support. The incumbent will be committed to ensuring caregivers in Ontario have access to peer support resources and programs reflective of their role and needs. Your approach is collaborative and creative, and you thrive in engaging a broad spectrum of community-based stakeholders and networks. You are curious and innovative, an exceptional communicator and system planner able to build dynamic relationships both internally and externally to promote OCO programs. You have insight into the social determinants of health and the varied and complex role demanded of caregivers. You ask the right questions and help get the right work done. You are prepared to roll up your sleeves and be part of continuing to build a young organization.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Programs and Services the Program Lead – Peer Support and Young Caregivers is responsible for:   

Program Administration:

• 1:1 Peer Support Program
• Administration and growth of the  1:1 Peer Support Program, where caregiver Peer Mentors offer telephone- based support to other caregivers, including mentor training and support, participant screening and referrals, oversight of the online registration and matching website, match monitoring, and providing technical support or website troubleshooting as necessary
• Online Support Groups:
• Provide administrative support for online support groups such as managing online registration platforms, sending reminders to participants, conducting program evaluations, providing coverage for online support group volunteer facilitators, etc.
• Answer all inquiries, complaints, or feedback from participants as well as plan for the growth and sustainability of our Online Support Groups (e.g., adding new groups to better meet demand)
• Provide support to the online support group facilitators in the form of ongoing training and learning, debriefing, and coaching.

• YoungCaregiversConnect.ca:
• Monitor and grow the online community at YoungCaregiversConnect.ca
• Provide input to the communications team regarding website content, website issues, or areas of improvement for the website.
• Participate in outreach opportunities to raise awareness for this population. Including but not limited to webinars, presentations, workshops, outreach, etc.

Volunteer Management and Retention:

• Working closely with the Engagement Lead, provide support and input on the recruitment, screening, and onboarding of volunteers for the Peer Mentor, Online Support Groups, and Young Caregivers Connect Online Community Ambassador positions
• Provide ongoing opportunities for coaching, mentorship, and support to the Online Support Group Volunteers, Peer Mentors, and Young Caregiver Connect Ambassadors.
• Host virtual training sessions and educational opportunities with OCO volunteers, host regular coaching calls and training with a diverse volunteer pool

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Participate as a member of the Caregiver Support Team, providing sensitive and empathetic caregiver support to caregivers exhibiting signs of distress seeking support while demonstrating strong professional boundaries. This includes helping participants by making referrals to our OCO Helpline and other services, registering for OCO programs and services, and listening empathetically to caregiver concerns to ensure they meet the program’s eligibility criteria, etc.
• Work closely with the Director, Programs and Services, the Regional Team Leads, external stakeholders, and caregiver advisors to develop and maintain new and existing peer support opportunities, referral pathways, and partnerships
• Together with the Director, plan for program sustainability, growth, and innovation to provide caregiver peer support across Ontario
• May also be responsible for the integration and facilitation of other peer support opportunities across other OCO programs
• Manage and maintain the multiple partnerships with the 1:1 Peer Support Program, in collaboration with the Regional Team.

Evaluation and Quality Improvement: 

• Conduct program monitoring and evaluation to assess impact and inform continuous improvement in the pursuit of achieving key organizational performance and client outcomes
• Work closely with the Director, Programs and Services, external stakeholders, and caregiver advisors to explore and develop new peer support opportunities as needed
• Collaborate with OCO team members to develop innovative solutions to addressing caregiver needs
• Other work as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (degree in social work is a definite asset) with an emphasis on providing direct emotional support and/or peer support as well as program development and management, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 years related experience in a similar role preferably in a community, health care or social services setting with a good understanding of community-based resources in Ontario
• Proven experience managing volunteer teams in a variety of roles (i.e.,  1:1 peer support mentors, online support group facilitators, working group members) with demonstrated ability to work in a virtual environment
• Proven experience in program planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of multiple program areas
• Understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles as they relate to caregiver supports and volunteer management
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills managing multiple competing deadlines, projects, and people in a fast-paced environment
• Strong technical ability and proficiency in the use of computers and various software applications, in particular Zoom, WordPress and Microsoft Office/Excel with the ability to communicate technical information (e.g., how to log into a Zoom Support Group or fill out an online form) to caregivers and volunteers in a variety of formats (e.g., over the phone, by email) 
• Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of caregiver support resource and program planning including co-design methods
• Understanding of and commitment to community development and organizational partnerships
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Support for the mission and values of OCO
• Bilingual English and French preferred (at the B level) with the ability to support caregivers over the phone and by email

Application Process

OCO strives for diversity of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability and age and welcomes applications from all qualified, prospective candidates.  We invite qualified applicants, in particular people representing the broad diversity of caregivers and Ontarians,  to submit a cover letter and resume to OCORecruit@archive.ontariocaregiver.ca by 4pm Monday December 13, 2021.  

We thank all applicants for their interest; we will contact only those applicants selected for further consideration. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and therefore early submission is encouraged. OCO will be pleased to provide an accessible recruitment process to candidates invited to move forward in our process. Candidates are requested to let us know if any accommodation is required to ensure a fully accessible interview and selection process is provided.