What are the responsibilities and job description for the Intensive Foster Care Peer Responder position at Choices CCS?
The Intensive Foster Care (IFC) Program is responsible for 24/7 mobile emergency response for enrolled youth experiencing an emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health crisis. The full-time IFC Peer Responder (40 hours/week) works on call and scheduled shifts based on the needs of the youth and IFC families. Ideally the IFC Peer Responder will have lived experience, possibly as a foster youth or having had experience with the juvenile justice system. Experiences in recovery from substance use or mental health are also invaluable to the peer role. The IFC Peer Responder functions as a role model, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills, serves as a consumer advocate, and provides resources and peer support for youth in outpatient and inpatient settings. The IFC Peer Responder operates from a strengths-based perspective, collaborating with the IFC Coordinator as a member of the youth’s team, as well as Choices’ Crisis Team, Foster Care, clinical leadership, and fellow responders. The IFC Peer Responder performs a wide range of tasks to assist youth and families in obtaining optimal functioning and stability within their homes and community and mastery over their own skill-building/recovery process.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
*Ensures all elements on the Task Timeline are completed within the associated time parameters.
*Can articulate the mission, vision and services provided by Choices.
*Communicates the practice expectations of the IFC program to consumers, community partners, and funders.
*Participates in shifts and on-call schedules based on a fire house model.
*Responds to crisis referrals in person within 60 minutes.
*Works with individuals both pre-and post-crisis to provide stabilizing connections to the community and peer support.
*Adheres to the policies and protocols established by Choices for the IFC program.
*Participates in Child and Family Team meetings for assigned IFC youth.
*Incorporates the guiding principles and values of Systems of Care into their interactions with individuals experiencing a crisis, fellow team members, Choices staff and system partners.
*Demonstrates the principles and practices of Trust-Based Relational Intervention during interactions with IFC youth and assists IFC Foster Parents with developing these skills.
*Communicates effectively with the IFC Supervisor and Clinical Director to ensure collaborative efforts and proactive response to issues and concerns.
*Follows established strategic plans and quality improvement procedures to achieve stated goals and to enhance the experience of referred individuals.
*Ensures collection of all necessary service data and documentation.
*Participates in scheduled meetings to review performance and quality indicators and makes recommended adjustments to improve the response and stabilization service.
Assists with ensuring youth have a safe environment by conducting safety walk throughs in a cadence defined by the task timeline.
*Attends staff meetings as required by Choices management, including regular supervision meetings.
*Assists with transporting youth to appointments needed for stabilization in the home environment if needed.
*Willingly completes other duties as assigned to advance the mission of the Choices and the IFC team.
Qualifications
*High School Diploma or GED. Some college preferred
*If applicable, 2 years participation in recovery and abstinence from drugs or alcohol, certification as a CPSP, CHW preferred.
*Prior experience with mental health crisis response preferred.
*Strong communication and writing skills. Bi-lingual skills (Spanish) a plus.
*Familiarity with Systems of Care values and principles.
*Highly organized, and effectively manages multiple priorities simultaneously.
*Professionally articulate in communicating (oral and written) service expectations, strengths and needs of clients and outcomes.
*Demonstrated professionalism working in teams with internal colleagues and external audiences in both person and through various electronic media.
*Enthusiastic about advancing system change within the community.
*Valid driver’s license.
*Operational smart phone.
*Ability to work shifts that include evenings, holidays, and weekends.
Hourly Rate: $18.26 ($38,000 annually)
Benefits Include: Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability, 401k Match, Tuition Reimbursement, and a generous PTO plan.
Salary : $38,000
