Peer Support Volunteer

Wellspring Alberta is a charitable organization that supports, informs, and empowers those diagnosed with cancer by helping them address the fear, isolation, disruption and practical problems cancer can bring to their lives.  An affiliate of the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, Wellspring Alberta provides a comprehensive range of programs, support, resources, and programs so anyone living with cancer and the people who care about them can improve the quality of their lives. All programs and services are informed by evidence and offered free of charge and without referral in three centres and online. Our vision is that no one has to face cancer alone.

Wellspring Alberta’s work is made possible through the generous donations of individuals, corporations, foundations and grassroots fundraisers, and with the efforts of committed volunteers, dedicated staff and skilled program leaders.

Position Description:

Peer support volunteers provide support to Wellspring members by offering information based on their own “lived” experience as a cancer survivor or as a caregiver. They also provide information about programs and services offered by Wellspring and resources in the greater cancer community.

As the point-of-entry to Wellspring, peer support volunteers guide in the selection of programs based on a combination of the needs, interest, time, and energy of the member. Through check-in phone calls peer support volunteers assist Wellspring members in finding appropriate programming and, ultimately, to transition into community programming when they are ready to step away from Wellspring.

Responsibilities:

• Provide a warm and reassuring welcome to our members.
• Provide confidential emotional and support to patients or their family members.
• Listen in an empathetic manner to the members’ circumstances and experiences with cancer.
• Help normalize feelings and experiences through reassurance and sharing information about
  common responses to the diagnosis of cancer.
• Share information about their own lived experience when appropriate.
• Offer tips and strategies related to their lived cancer journey as a point of reference but, not
  prescriptive in nature. This may include scheduling daily activities to best manage fatigue, or
  ways to prepare or serve foods to help maximize nutrition intake during treatment.
• Share information of Wellspring’s programs and services.
• Using the navigation tools, guide the new member in the selection of programs based on a
  combination of the needs, interest, time, and energy.
• Assist members in registering for programs or accessing services via our on-line registration

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Have a lived experience as a cancer patient or the caregiver of a cancer patient.
• Be post-treatment and no longer using Wellspring programs for their cancer support needs.
• Complete the Wellspring volunteer onboarding process, which includes:
  • Interview
  • Reference check
  • Police record check, including vulnerable sector (Wellspring to reimburse cost incurred)

Training requirements:

• Completion of peer support training sessions (including in-home and online facilitated learning).
• Online Wellspring orientation.
• Completions of three buddy shifts.
• Attend bi-monthly peer support meetings.
• Ongoing in-service training as offered.

What’s the commitment? Peer support volunteers are asked to commit to 2-4 hours a week. While we understand that personal circumstances might change, we ask that you do your best to commit to the role for a minimum of one year.

To apply:

To apply, please complete the Wellspring Volunteer application form and we will be in touch soon.

Inclusion Statement

Wellspring Alberta is committed to being an inclusive organization. We are in a process of expanding the diversity of identities and lived experiences, to be more reflective of the communities in which we work and live. To support this process, we’ve become an employer partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, developed an Advisory group, and we are taking action as part of our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. We understand we’re on a journey, which will take time, and that increasing equity in our organization and in cancer care is critical.

We encourage applications from groups that are typically under-represented in cancer-serving organizations including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) individuals, LGBTQ2S+ identifying individuals, persons with disabilities, and candidates from all equity seeing groups.

We welcome you to contact us for a conversation about accessibility and accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

We know that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about the role, but your qualifications don’t match perfectly, we encourage you to apply.

We appreciate your interest in Wellspring and warmly welcome all applications.