About this role
Job Summary:
The Peer Support Specialist will assist clients in the program through the provision of emotional, informational, instrumental, and affiliation supports.
Peer Support Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a client advocate, providing client information and peer support for individuals in community and residential settings. Performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.
Facilitates groups in relation to the treatment and recovery of substance abuse, mental health, or co-occurring disorders using a multi-disciplinary team approach; prepares clients for re-entry into the family and community continuing care post discharge ensuring integration into various supports.
Key Responsibilities:
- Works in a multi-disciplinary team to coordinate care using Critical Time Intervention methods.
- Attends weekly case and staff meetings.
- Assist clients in working with their treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.
- Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem-solving techniques with individuals and groups. As much as possible, the PS will share their own recovery story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery.
- Facilitate peer led groups, wellness groups, life skills groups, and institute peer monitoring. Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach clients skills on how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum that allows group members and PS to share their experiences.
- Support clients vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.
- Helps the client assess needs and builds enduring relationships.
- Responsible for progress notes that monitor links, track phase plans, and identify when assessments, interventions, changes in case management intensity is needed.
- Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment.
- Conducts asset mapping from clients perspective.
- Helps the client identify and strengthen community (existing or future connections) that are informal or formal.
- Actively involved in the linking process. Connects clients to the necessary resources and supports in the community using the CTI Model to promote sobriety and recovery.
- Assists clients in connecting with community support networks like drug free socialization opportunities, recovery centers, and health and social services agencies to help address and remove psychosocial barriers and build community.
- Prepares and maintains case records and logs on all assigned clients; ensures the accuracy and completeness of the same; enters pertinent information into the established Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
- Engages in ongoing written and verbal communication with clinical and other professional staff in relationship to daily client activities.
- Submits required reports and statistics; prepares written incident reports.
- Performs data entry and light typing as required.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Ability to meet attendance requirements.
- Ability to read, write, and communicate the English language effectively.
- Ability to effectively and efficiently work on multiple cases at the same time.
- Ability to drive a vehicle safely and in accordance with all laws and regulations.
- Ability and willingness to conduct all duties in accordance with the ministry of the organization and its Christian principles; conducts all communications and job duties with the highest level of professionalism.
- Limited amount of physical effort required associated with walking, standing, lifting, and carrying light objects (less than 25 lbs.) 5-10% of work time.
- Duties are usually performed seated. Sitting may be relieved by brief or occasional periods of standing or walking.
- Work is partially performed in a normal office within a shelter environment where there are little or no physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or discomforts associated with noise, dust, dirt, and the like.
- Work is also done in the field where one may have to travel to home visits, service providers, or other community-based centers.
Employee Benefits:
- Health, Dental, Vision, and Hearing Insurance plans; Group Life Insurance; Retirement Benefits.
- Paid Time Off
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Associates degree from an accredited college or university in Social Services, one of the Behavioral Sciences, or related field,
And
One year progressively responsible experience working with substance use, mental health or co-occurring disorders, (Relevant work experience, in excess of the required two years, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. One year of related experience is equivalent to thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university. If work experience is substituted for education, a High School Diploma/GED is still required.),
Certifications:
- CPR and First Aid Certification (or ability to obtain within established timeframe)
- Valid State Drivers License
- Provide documentation of at least 12 months in personal recovery and complete certification program from a not-for-profit entity engaged in peer support specialist training as having met such criteria as VA shall establish for a peer support specialist position or Certification from the International Peer Examination from the State of Texas.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Veterans | Disabled