Peer Specialist (Re-Entry)

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Peer Specialist assists and guides clients toward the identification and achievement of specific goals defined by the client and specified in the Individual Treatment Plan (ITP).

The work involves a variety of routine, standardized tasks that facilitate work performed by higher level providers. Work performed by the incumbent will promote community socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, self-help, and development of natural supports.

The work involves providing support services for the client that requires assisting them in establishing goals and mechanisms to reach those goals. Decisions on establishing goals and formal action plans will always be made in conjunction with the client and case manager/treatment team and reviewed with the supervisor. Decisions regarding what needs to be done involve choices that require a simple analysis such as organizing facts in narrative or logical order and comparing them to past solutions in similar cases or to applicable criteria. Actions to be taken or responses to be made, such as advice to the client differs depending on the facts of the situation.

Work will be performed in a wide range of settings, including the medical center; in client, group or family homes; in community-based outpatient settings, community agencies; or in transport vehicles (public or government). Work areas are often noisy, irregular and unpredictable and can be stressful at times. Clients demonstrate varying levels of recovery and symptoms.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

· Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups and in locating and joining existing groups.

· Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.

· Independently or with periodic assistance of higher graded treatment team members, utilize and teach problem-solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be used where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. As one who has availed themselves of mental health services, the PS will share their own experiences and the skills, strengths, supports, and resources they use. 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 recovery.

· Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach clients 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. By using identified literature, media, etc. clients will gain hope, learn to identify their strengths and combat negative self-talk.

· 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.

· Assist clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance client’s employment acquisition and tenure.

· Using their recovery experience, the Peer Specialist will:

• Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
• Assist the client in obtaining affordable housing of their choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.

· The Peer Specialist models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.

· Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery- based services that will aid the client in daily living.

· Assist in obtaining services that suit the individual’s recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform clients about community and other supports and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but not limited to: Social Security Administration Office, Department of Children and Families, local YMCA, library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.

· Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions. Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques the Peer Specialist 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.

· With assistance from the Program Coordinator/Team Leader, the Peer Specialist will work with the clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each client’s identified goals. Treatment/Recovery Plans will be reviewed and signed by the Coordinator/Team Leader and other participating treatment team staff.

· The Peer Specialist will document the following on the client’s treatment/recovery plan:

• identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals
• interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for recovery
• progress made toward goals

· The Peer Specialist will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the behavioral health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. The Peer Specialist 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.

This list of essential functions is not intended to be exhaustive. NWFHN reserves the right to revise this job description as needed to comply with actual job requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Have personal experience and knowledge of recovery.

· A genuine hope and optimism that their peers will succeed and can recover.

· A sincere interest in the welfare of their peers, including the ability to see each person as a unique individual to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.

REQUIRED:

· Possession of a valid Florida Driver’s License, the continuation of an acceptable driving record, and availability of reliable transportation

· High School Diploma or equivalent

PREFERRED:

· Certification (Certified Recovery Peer Specialist)

· Experience with behavioral health and substance use

· Skills in communication, active listening, and documentation

· Microsoft Office and General Computer knowledge, skills, and ability

· Willingness to learn

· Ability to work with individuals who are, or at risk of, at various stages with their own mental health, psychological trauma, and/or substance use recovery and/or treatment.

· Knowledge, skills, and ability for self-well-being (Individual Plan for Relapse and coping; secondary trauma)

SKILLS:

· 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 individuals with behavioral health conditions. The Peer Specialist 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 behavioral health consumers on their strengths and interests.

· Ability to do sedentary work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as books, papers, etc. and accessing transportation and driving a government car or van.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $43,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• mental illness/substance: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 75% (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Quincy, FL 32351

Salary : $43,000