Life Experience & Peer Support

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So I had an interview yesterday for a part time job as a peer support worker. It went well. I won't hear for a couple of weeks and there were a lot of people interviewing for it. It would be interesting to work in a field because of my experience with mental health challenges. The idea in this case is for the worker to offer companionship to another as equals and to share in experience with activities and such. It would be cool if I got it. As I was leaving there was a young girl waiting for her interview and I thought that this might be one case in which age works to my favour.

Has anyone worked in a field in which your age and life experience played a role?

I haven't worked as a peer support worker but I've been told many times before that I should. I have a peer support worker that I see who has her own mental illnesses and similar physical illnesses. It is nice to have someone to talk to who gets it.

Peer support workers are a great idea, they are much more accessible than social workers or psychologists cause they are paid less and don't require anywhere near as much training. I can see her every week if I want or even have our appointments over the phone.

I hope your interview went well, hope you get the job.

The reason why I didn't respond:

Experience is somewhat important in my job--but age and wisdom have no bearing on it, whatsoever.

Thanks. Me too. I think it would be a great opportunity both to share experiences with others and to make some money. I haven't heard anything yet.


This job is all about personal life experience and sharing with others who are struggling. I think it would be fulfilling to work with people in this way. If I do get it, there is a week of training just to start, but I get the idea that it is a continuous learning environment.

Good luck with it. Got everything crossed for you. Even me toes!

I hope you get this job, Ann.

I am under thirty and am probably pretty immature so I don't mean to disrupt anything on this board but I think it might be appropriate to mention that age discrimination is a very real thing and is well documented. Age has everything to do with getting a job, in my experience, though again I am younger then thirty, I find employers will literally do what they can get away with. If they could fire someone for being black and say that was the reason, they probably would.

Thanks!

Thank you; it would be a great opportunity.

It is ironic that in this instance my age may work for me. The older you are, the more life experience you have and it is this experience that is required for the job.

As I think about this:

My only advice, at this point, should you get the position, is to NEVER even think about romancing one of your male clients, no matter how much temptation exists (and there WILL be temptation).

That seems a little insulting, kraftiekortie. It never occurred to me to warn Ann not to take advantage of clients. (or whatever they're called in this line of work) I just assume she would not exploit anyone.

I'm just writing about the potential pitfalls.

It's happened to me. Except in reverse.

And I wasn't talking about TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CLIENTS. I KNOW she wouldn't take advantage of anybody that way. She has high ethical values.

I was talking about potentially having feelings for clients. It DOES happen.

Honestly, why would you think I would believe that of her? That sort of thought never entered my mind. If it did, I would deserved to be castigated. I would deserve to be demonized. It's that ridiculous and stupid.

To "romance" a client would be unprofessional and a breach of the person's trust.



Thank you, Bea. I was a little taken aback by kraftie's remark. I've always taken responsibility very seriously.



Do tell ....



Thank you, kraftie. I appreciate the clarification.[/quote]

One of my references told me yesterday that they got a call, so that is good. It means they are considering me.

When I was in a "vocational rehab" kind of situation once, I developed a crush on my caseworker. I was 19 years old.

I also developed a crush on one of my supervisors at a job site sponsored by the "vocational rehab" entity. Again, I was 19 years old. She was in her 30's. She was rather taken aback when made a move to dance with her at an office party. She just laughed it off, though.

IT DOESN'T MEAN I WOULD DO THIS SORT OF THING NOW!

What I'm saying: this kind of stuff could happen.

For sure. They even asked me in the interview how I would handle it if a client approached me that way.

So, I'm hoping to hear tomorrow if I got the job. If I don't hear tomorrow, then I probably didn't get it. I do know that they contacted my references, so that's good. I think it would be a very rewarding job and it would mean that I would be back driving again and possibly be able to get my own apartment. I'm trying not to think about it as it would be a huge change. And a great opportunity.
Also tomorrow I am meeting with my previous employer, the cleaning company, as I was exposed to asbestos at one of the job sites. I am hoping they will offer me financial compensation.

I'm just surprised your Canadian city has the same sort of ratholes as NYC has.

I hope you leave that place soon.