Peer Support Specialist

Peer Support Specialist

Under direction of the Special Projects Supervisor and within federal, state and local guidelines performs routine (journey-level) human services support work. Work involves providing information to clients or assisting staff in the delivery of social services.

Contributes as a member of the Adult Mental Health Case Management Department in a peer support capacity to facilitate recovery and enhance wellness. Serves as a role model for recovery, for staff and consumers. Supports people using services to develop self-help skills. Provides practical support for people using services to access and utilize community support networks, such as transportation support, accompaniment, etc. Educates people about the range of available services in and beyond the agency. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Education, Training, and Experience

• High School diploma or High School equivalency certificate. Received a minimum of one year mental health services.
  
  
  In order to qualify for this position, you must be able to:
• -Self-identify as a person who has direct personal experience living in recovery from mental health challenges.
  -Have a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition or dual diagnosis, rather than just a substance abuse diagnosis, or have experienced emotional distress which significantly disrupted one's life.
  -Have significant experience working on his/her own recovery and an ability to manage his/her own wellness. Have a desire to use her/his experiences to help others with their recovery.
  -Be willing to publicly identify as a person living in recovery for the purpose of educating, role modeling, and providing hope to others about the reality of recovery.

Registration, Certification, Licensure, and Other Qualifications

• Must have and maintain a background and criminal history free from any disqualifying offenses as outlined by the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and automobile insurance.
• Individuals with an out-of-state driver's license must be able to obtain a driver's license in the state of Texas within thirty (30) days.
• Successful completion of all position-specific training within thirty (30) days of employment is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the needs, problems, and community environments of persons with disabilities; of community and government service delivery systems; of case management systems; and of community welfare resources.
• Skill in the operation of computers and applicable computer software.
• Ability to negotiate services and to communicate effectively.
• Understanding and practice of Trauma Informed Care principles.

Essential Duties

1. Support the process of Person Centered Planning:

• Using one's story as the cornerstone skill, educate people about the reality of recovery, support people to envision the possibility of recovery or a better future, support people to explore recovery questions and uncertainties.
• Using one's story as the cornerstone skill and other skills, teach people strategies for overcoming negative self-talk and fear.
• Using one's story, support people to choose both short term and long term goals of value in the community, including housing, employment, relationships, etc.; support people to articulate, in their own words, their goals and aspirations in the development of their service plans, assist people to explore the skills and supports needed to achieve their valued goals, support people to articulate their needs in the goal-making process, support people in learning skills of self-advocacy and self-determination, teach people skills and strategies to overcome taught helplessness, offer hope to others that they can take a lead role in their lives, assist people in articulating personal goals for recovery.

2. Support Wellness Planning:

• Share and support use of recovery tools including established best practices and individually developed tools and strategies;
• Provide education on dimension of wellness (including physical, emotional, financial, spiritual) and ways to maintain personal wellness and recovery;
• Provide 1:1 support around Wellness Planning and completing a WRAP plan to at least 2 individuals assessed to LOC3 or LOC4 a month.

3. Support Community Inclusion

• Facilitate 1:1 Peer Support with community members and individuals;
• Visit community resources with people using services to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities;
• Educate about self-help and community peer resources;
• Support peoples' access to new resources;
• Support peoples' desires to practice new skills in the community.

4. Provide Peer Support via Support and Educational Meeting:

• Develop and facilitate recovery based educational groups and activities;
• Lead as well as teach people using services;
• Assist people in setting up and sustaining self-help groups;
• Facilitate Wellness Planning Activities, including assist people in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) support group;
• Teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups with an emphasis on those individuals who have assessed to LOC3 and LOC4.

5. Maintain productivity goal of 40 hours of face to face services provided to individuals monthly with a strong emphasis on provision to individuals assessed to LOC3 and LOC4. Enter all documentation for services rendered according to Center Policy.

6. Serves all individuals without regard to their background or history placing the individual's needs above all other considerations. Models and practices recovery principles in all activities including hope, empowerment, responsibility, mutuality and self-determination.


7. Serves as a positive role model demonstrating professional and caring attitudes and behaviors toward co-workers, individuals and guests. Courteously provides assistance in a concise, informative manner, keeping a positive, courteous tone and appropriate non-verbal.

8. Maintains compliance with all state and agency training requirements, including Service Coordination and Medicaid Reimbursement and Billing Protocol. Follows the agency and departmental policies and procedures in a responsible manner consistent with the organizational mission.

9. Is present and on duty with no excessive time off. All use of vacation, compensatory, personal leave time is authorized in advance. Is aware of and demonstrates safe working habits. Complies with all facility safety standards realizing they are intended to protect employees and individuals served.