Peer Support Specialist- FEP

Minimum Starting Hourly Rate: $14.83

Maximum Starting Hourly Rate - Dependent on Qualifications

Benefits

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off - 7.69 hrs. per pay period
• 10 Observed Company Paid Holidays
• 8 Hours Annual Volunteer Time Off
• Retirement Plan w/ Employer Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This is a grant funded position, and employment is contingent upon continued funding.

The Peer Support Specialist (PS) is an active member of the First Episode Psychosis Program and provides peer support services to clients with serious and persistent mental illness, mainly those experiencing early psychosis. Under the supervision of the Program Manager (a peer support supervisor), the PS will function as a role model to individuals in recovery; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; and serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in an outpatient clinical setting. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. PS provide peer mentoring and support to consumers; model self-advocacy skills; provide information, referral, and non-clinical skills training; maintain engagement; and assist in identifying resources. This service includes interventions to facilitate recovery and documentation of the provision of all peer provider services, including both face-to-face and non-face-to-face activities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings and individual or group sessions. Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques, the PS provides opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
• Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery.
• Facilitates ongoing individual and group skills training sessions to teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum, which allows group members to share their experiences. As a facilitator of these sessions, the PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies, as well as share their own experiences and the skills, strengths, supports and resources they used.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual aid groups, professional services, etc.) that support the individual’s goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the individual, staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Assist clients in working with their case manager and treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve goals and self-directed recovery. This is accomplished by assisting clients with articulating personal goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions. During these sessions, the PS will support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources needed to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery based services that will aid the client in daily living. The PS will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. The PS will continue to share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support recovery-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered.
• Participate in weekly team meetings as well as monthly supervision.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Central Counties Services incorporates principles of trauma-informed care, which includes cultural sensitivity, in all areas of service delivery. All job descriptions include the responsibility to learn about and implement trauma-informed practices within the scope of work for the position.
• Demonstrate high ethical standards, trustworthiness, and personal integrity. Regular attendance, dependability, and promptness are required for the 8-5 workday or agreed upon hours 100% of the time, to ensure consistency and completeness of program’s processes.
• Professional Development - Successfully complete training required to maintain skill competency and cross training to ensure consistency across program procedures. Complete continuing education as required by professional standards and the Center.
• Must stay compliant with all required training.
• Frequent daily driving within the catchment area is required.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

Experience/Education/Licensing/Certification

• High School Diploma or GED
• At least one year as a consumer in a mental health system.
• Must be certified as a Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) by the state of Texas. Candidates that have completed the orientation, self-assessment, and Core training are eligible to apply, but must be able to obtain full certification within six month of employment. 
• Ability to speak before groups and in community settings.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Central Counties Services incorporates principles of trauma-informed care, which includes cultural sensitivity, in all areas of service delivery. All job descriptions include the responsibility to learn about and implement trauma-informed practices within the scope of work for the position.
• Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness. Community resources may include but are not limited to Social Security Office, Department of Family and Children services, local recreation centers, library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, housing providers, etc. The PS may accompany clients to community resources to assist them in accessing these resources.
• Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests.

Relationship Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work behavior must be compatible with Center value statement and Policies and Procedures Manual contributing to an environment of problem solving, building trust, conflict resolution, and customer service.
• Ability to perform tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to plan and schedule work and implement directives without constant supervision.
• Ability to present a professional appearance and conduct when representing the Center.
• Ability to work cooperatively and productively with supervisor, individuals, co-workers, and groups of persons at all levels of activity, contributing to a strong spirit of teamwork.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other agencies and the general public using tact, courtesy and good judgment.

Additional Requirements

• Must have and maintain a valid drivers’ license with an acceptable driving record.
• Regular attendance and reliability is critical to business operations.

Other Duties

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Central Counties Services is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Qualifications