Job Description

Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)

*******$250 SIGN ON BONUS*******

Crisis Center

Part Time/Relief (Hours Vary)

- Tuscaloosa, AL -

Competencies:

Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Must possess knowledge and skills sufficient for establishing effective relationships with clients who have a mental illness and/or a substance use disorder.
Must be knowledgeable about mental illnesses and substance use disorders, the recovery model, and components of psychosocial rehabilitation.
Must work within the Organization to serve the needs of clients.
Must understand treatment methods and services provided by the agency.
Must be able to work effectively in crisis situations.

Essential Functions/Job Responsibilities:

Orient new clients to the Crisis Center and processes at the Crisis Center.
Educate new clients regarding the services available to them as well as the recovery process.
Educate clients on recovery techniques, provide support and encouragement.
Facilitate educational and training groups with clients and the family members of clients as directed by the immediate supervisor.
Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals.
Assist clients in maintaining self-care needs.
Develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship with clients so that they can identify emotional, psychiatric or behavioral changes which may require further intervention or treatment. The CPS will help the client resolve the problem, and/or refer the client to the appropriate clinical staff.
Teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears.
Ensure that appropriate information is communicated to Nurses, Clinicians and other staff regarding relevant client matters.
Attend and provide input in staff meetings and interdisciplinary treatment planning.
Document appropriate information in client records promptly and accurately.
Model for clients, good communication skills, recovery-oriented living skills, effective coping techniques, and self-help strategies.
Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading articles, journals, and other relevant materials.
Continue to develop and share recovery-oriented material with other CPSs at the continuing education assemblies and via email.
Attend continuing education assemblies when offered by the state.
Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective recovery based services.
Ensure that all assigned duties are implemented according to IRBH policies, procedures and DMH Standards.
Ensure all safety, fire prevention, and health measures are followed while on duty.
Maintain communication and awareness of current events by reading memos, e-mails, bulletin boards, and communication logs.
Work independently and/or with teams to complete assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner with minimum supervision.
Support Organizational Code of Conduct, Standards Compliance, HIPAA and Security Programs by ensuring job tasks are performed in a legal and ethical manner, assessing the work area for non-compliance and notifying the supervisor, manager, Executive Director or designee as appropriate, and maintaining training requirements and understanding that training is a required condition of employment.
Adhere to attendance and punctuality policy by allowing adequate time to arrive, clock-in and assume responsibilities at designated time, adhering to meal and break times and making timely requests for annual leave and reporting the need for sick leave in accordance with policy.
Comply with all standards related to safety and health by maintaining current TB Test, CPR/First Aid, CPI, and by reporting infections and on-the-job injuries in accordance with policy.
Identify opportunities for improving the quality of services provided by the department and the organization.
All other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor or Crisis Center Director.

Minimum Qualifications :

Must be a present or past client of behavioral health services.
Must be at least 2 years in recovery.
Willingness to obtainPeer Specialist Certification from Alabama Department of Mental Health required.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Working Conditions, HIPAA andOther Guidelines

Job Specifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities as defined by ADA, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

HIPAA: Must be knowledgeable of and abide by HIPAA regulations with regard to protected health information as defined by HIPAA and IRBH. Minimally accesses verbal, written, and /or electronic PHI, usually incidentally to an approved use and /or disclosure as pertains to client's financial, demographic, and/or clinical data.

Working Conditions: Works in wide range of settings, including the main outpatient center, in the client's home, community-based settings, residential programs, or in transport vehicles. Areas may be noisy, irregular and unpredictable and can be stressful at times. Clients can present with active psychiatric symptoms, mixed responses to interventions, and unstable living and relationship situations; may require long hours. Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees, clients and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to, computer, copier, multi-line phone and fax machine. Must be able to lift fifty (50) pounds and negotiate several sets of stairs in an eight (8) hour shift. Some risk involved in the event of aggressive/out-of-control clients.

Physical Requirements: The Physical Requirements described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities as defined by ADA, who are otherwise qualified, to perform essential functions.

Physical presence onsite is essential. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range. Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Indian Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer
This Employer participates in E-Verify