Peer Specialist

Overview Summary: As a Peer Specialist you would provide direct mental health service to clients in an emergency crisis inpatient outpatient community support program and residential settings. You would serve as a role model for clients and educate clients about self-help techniques and self-help group process; teach them effective coping strategies sometimes based on personal experience; assist them in clarifying their goals for rehabilitation and recovery; and help them to develop support systems. You would perform a range of tasks designed to assist clients in regaining personal control over their lives and over their own recovery processes. Your tasks would focus on facilitating the development of self-help skills, support systems, coping strategies, and the increased hope and self-esteem that are central to recovery from psychiatric disability. Responsibilities Provide opportunities for individuals receiving services to direct their own recovery process Teach and support acquisition and utilization of skills needed to facilitate individual recovery Promote knowledge of available service options and choices Promote the utilization of natural resources within the community Facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth Be supportive of the recovering person when in a crisis as part of the treatment team Act as a role model to persons in recovery to inspire hope, share life experiences, and lessons learned as a person in recovery Model/mentor the recovery process and demonstrate coping skills Engage individuals who may be at risk and provide stage-appropriate recovery education and supports, e.g. usage of the leveling system and evidence-based practices Assist in the orientation process for persons who are new to receiving mental health and/or co-occurring disorder services Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence and be trauma-informed as relevant to the needs of individuals in recovery Identify recovering persons’ abilities, strengths, and assets and assist them to recognize and use them Assist individuals to identify their personal interests and goals Educate and engage individuals in the Wellness Recovery Action Plan process as a means to recognize early triggers and signs of relapse and use of individual coping strategies as an alternative to more restrictive services Facilitate Double Trouble, 12 Step, or other self-help groups for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders Co-facilitate meetings to nurture a peer support culture (e.g., community meetings, peer council) Assist individuals in developing and practicing the skills selected and defined on their rehabilitation/treatment plans; this may include offsite coaching sessions during community appointments or participation in activities (social, leisure, recreational) and fostering spiritual connections with faith-based organizations and participating in 12 Steps, fellowships, self-help and mutual support groups Support the individual in seeking to connect/reconnect with family, friends, and significant others and in learning how to improve or eliminate unhealthy relationships Participate in all meetings, task forces, advisory boards designated by regulatory bodies (BHDDH, CMS and deemed status accreditation bodies) 22 hours of face-to-face contact per week Qualifications Be self-identified, current or former user of mental health or co-occurring services who can relate to others not using those services Have personal experience and knowledge of recovery Have a high school diploma or GED Have demonstrated proficiency in reading and writing Have maintained within the last three years at least 12 months of successful full or part-time paid or voluntary work experience (not necessarily consecutive) or one year post-secondary education totaling 24 credit hours Have completed and passed a Peer Specialist certification program approved by the Department Necessary Special Requirements Attend trainings on relevant topics such as substance abuse and psychiatric rehabilitation Participate in and complete all CBH mandatory in-services Keep supervisory informed of all potential problematic situations/concerns/issues Keep supervisor and team members informed about individuals’ strengths, accomplishments, and obstacles they are experiencing in obtaining their recovery goals Meet with supervisor at least one hour per week with a minimum of 3 contacts Mobile staff require 6 hours of supervision before working off site independently Job Knowledge, Skills, and Ability Be able to establish trusting relationships with peers Be able to work independently and as a member of a team Be able to work evenings and weekends Have good knowledge of the city’s public transit system Be able to use computer to record services or be willing to learn May need to be able to climb stairs when visiting individuals in their apartments/residencies Ethics Uses and accesses information in clients’ health information records or about a client only as necessary to actual duties and then only in accordance with access levels assigned to this position by Gateway Healthcare Inc., and in accordance with Gateway Healthcare Inc. policies, rules and procedures as adopted by Gateway Healthcare Inc. from time-to-time Comply with agency ethics and codes of conduct in all contacts with clients, co-workers, and the community Observe all agency policies and procedures Maintain up-to-date knowledge of agency policy and procedures, protocols, and guidelines to ensure observance and compliance Interpersonal Factors Must be able to appreciate the sensitive/private nature and legal status of information about individual clients obtained, maintained, or used by Gateway Healthcare Inc. and to not access, use, disclose, or request such information about a client unless necessary to the performance of this job Physical/Environmental Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the main duties and responsibilities of this job. Other duties with different demands may also be assigned by the employee’s supervisor. Gateway complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and analogous state statutes. Therefore, to the extent required by law Gateway will make reasonable accommodations to allow qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, duties and responsibilities of their positions. Employees and applicants should discuss requests for reasonable accommodations with Human Resources at any time. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, office equipment, or controls and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, reach with hands and arms and climb. The employee is occasionally required to stand; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the abilities to adjust focus. The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee must be able to talk and hear. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. #J-18808-Ljbffr LifeSpan