IPS PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST - CCSEP

IPS Peer Support Specialist

Neighborhood House Association (NHA) Career Core Supported Employment Program (CCSEP) helps active adult and Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) job seekers with a qualifying behavioral health diagnosis, find and secure competitive employment using the evidence-based Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) model.

The IPS Peer Support Specialist will provide peer support services that include case management and transition support services to clients of the Career Core supported Employment Program. The PSS collaborates with Employment Specialists, clinical staff, and community partners to support engagement, reduce barriers to employment, and ensure services align with IPS principles, recovery values, and agency policies.

The IPS Peer Support Specialist reports to the Program Specialist.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assist individuals in how to make vocational choices, support client choices, and help clients overcome problems related to achieving goals, including the finding and holding of a job.
• Assist clients in building social skills that will help re-establish normal roles of life and re-integrate into communities.
• Assist clients to identify problems that interfere with the achievement of clients' goals and help with the development and use of specific interventions needed for overcoming the problems.
• Establish linkages with potential employers, community partners, and maintain directory of employers relevant to clients' preferences and common work experiences and attend meetings, training, workshop pertaining to responsibilities and duties.
• Actively participate in vocational unit meetings and multidisciplinary team to advocate and discuss challenges of clients.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Clubhouse International Standards, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) practices and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation to support clients in their recovery goals.
• Knowledge of needs of people with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders and community resources.
• Knowledge of serious and persistent mental illnesses, co-occurring disorders, bio-psychosocial rehabilitation principles, evidence-based practices for recovery programs;
• Ability to communicate in a positive, professional, and tactful manner, exercise tact, objectivity and sensitivity when dealing with clients and staff;
• Knowledge of relevant software and ability to use Microsoft Office programs (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel).

Education and Work Experience: High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent and two (2) years' experience as a peer specialist or two (2) years education post high school and at least one (1) year experience as an IPS peer specialist. Lived experience in recovery preferred. IPS Peer Specialist or Certification as Peer Support Specialist preferred. Bilingual preferred.

Licenses, Certifications & Special Requirements: A valid Class B California Driver's License with passenger endorsement within 6 months of hire; A clear TB test required upon hire and must be maintained every four years. Knowledge of cultural issues, values and beliefs of the target population of adults with SMI background, homelessness and co-occurring disorders, relevant to providing appropriate program services.

Physical and Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to operate, finger, handle or feel office equipment; reach with hands and arms; bend, kneel, grasp; and lift up to fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus to view documents.

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data; use math and mathematical reasoning; analyze and solve problems; learn and apply new information; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions; meet intensive and changing deadlines and interact with officials, staff and the public.

Work Environment:

Employees in this class generally work under typical office conditions. The noise level varies from quiet (private office) to moderate business office with computers and printers, light traffic. The employee may have occasional contact with angry or agitated individuals.