Peer Support Specialist

About Us:

VOALA
Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans' services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at

PAY RATE: $21.05 - $22.16 Per Hour

BENEFITS: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

As a staff member of the treatment team, the Peer Support Specialist performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Based on similar experiences, this position offers the Veteran [Client] empathy, support, and advice as challenges are faced along the way. The Peer Support Specialist adds experience-based competencies and real-world examples that complement the training and expertise of the clinical staff members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Share personal experiences, skills, strengths, supports and resources in your recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse issues to support re-integration into society, early intervention and treatment, peer recovery support, and coordination of case management and wraparound supportive services (as program appropriate).
• Accompany participants to appointments and meetings, housing searches, voucher application/issuance sessions, and any other veteran-centered activity.
• In coordination with the Case Management team, assist participants in developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving goals and plans; work with case manager or treatment team in needed steps for self-directed recovery (most often within the home of the Client)
• Assist participants with setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups and with locating and joining existing groups
• Assist Case Management Team with helping the participants identify and eliminate barriers and maintain employment/housing/sobriety.
• Other duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
• Peer Counselling
• Accompany participants in efforts to obtain benefits from various veteran support programs.
• Assist Benefits Specialist's efforts for assigned participants in the creation and monitoring of recovery plan, to include home visits.
• Work with clients to remove barriers to full participation in aid programs.
• Monitoring support groups
• Learning functions of Benefits advocacy
• Administrative: Case Management recordkeeping
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

MANDATED REPORTER

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges.

EDUCATION:

• High school diploma (or GED/High School Equivalence Certificate)

EXPERIENCE:

• Personal experience in recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse issues

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current California driver's license and clean driving record

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.