What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Support Specialist position at Lutheran Family Services?
Job Type
Full-Time
Position Summary
Full-Time
Position Summary
- Peer Support Specialists support individuals through shared knowledge, beliefs, and experiences that promote recovery and wellness. Support Specialists support a client’s recovery journey through advocacy, modeling skills and behavior, education, and assistance with navigating the system of care. The Peer Support Specialist requires a specialized certification (more information below).
- Educate the individual about the peer support relationship to include topics such as healthy personal boundaries, individual rights, and the significance of shared decision making.
- Support the individual in their unique recovery journey through active listening, modeling, and connection to resources.
- Assist individuals and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination.
- In collaboration with the individual, develop a peer support recovery plan.
- Provide support to consumers using evidenced-based models such as wellness recovery action plans (WRAP) and Whole Health Action Management (WHAM).
- Provide coaching to facilitate system navigation, accessing community resources, and engagement with formal and informal resources and supports.
- Provide coaching on advocacy and self-help skills to enhance client’s process of recovery.
- Share experiences, skills, strengths, supports, and resources to benefit the individual by demonstrating wellness through their own effective symptom management.
- Assist clients with socializing, planning, and carrying out leisure activities.
- Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
- Provide side-by-side support, skills modeling, and/or transportation to support health and wellness, vocational/educational, and independent living goals (as needed).
- Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the team.
- Serve as a liaison between the team and consumer-run programs.
- Work with the team to complete required assessments.
- Participate in regular supervision sessions and team meetings as required by the program.
- Participate in and represent LFS at community/partner meetings to provide peer advocacy.
- Other job-related duties as assigned.
- Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent time-management and problem-solving skills
- Ability to collaborate with peers, clients, and other individuals in the work environment.
- Strong client advocacy skills.
- Thorough knowledge of recovery principals and the unique role of peer support.
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Regular and predictable attendance, and promptness for work.
- Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Family Services.
- Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace.
- Helping
- Decision Making
- Empathy
- Relationship Builder
- A high school diploma or GED is required.
- Must have at least a 12-month period of sobriety from drugs and alcohol.
- Must be willing to identify as a former or current consumer of mental health and/or substance abuse services.
- Paid or volunteer experience providing service or support to clients is preferred.
- All Peer Support Specialists must hold a Peer Support Certification or complete requirements within 12 months of hire or first available opportunity (as approved).
- Hybrid work environment (in-office, remote, and field setting).
- Company-issued laptop and cell phone.
- Walking and transporting client to and from various locations in the community (as required per program needs).
- Valid driver’s license, proof of liability auto insurance, and ability to drive a personal vehicle on a daily basis for client and program needs within the community required.
