Housing Recovery Support Specialist

Description

SUMMARY:

The Housing Recovery Support Specialist provides peer support services to people served who experience a serious mental illness, possible co-occurring substance use disorder, and other mental conditions, who are living in Dillingham Apartments. This individual will function as a role model to peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery, overcoming barriers in remaining successfully housed, and use of coping skills.  The Housing Recovery Support Specialist, through shared lived experience will inspire hope, and help individuals develop skills and resources necessary to increase the individual’s capacity to be successful and satisfied in their living environment and chances for successful tenancy.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Duties and Responsibilities reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all related work assignments that may be inherent to the job.

• Serve as an advocate, providing individualized services that connect housing stability and mental wellness, by promoting the self-determination and decision-making abilities of those they serve.
• Facilitate both group services for Dillingham residents that provide opportunities for the tenants to gather, share strengths, socialize and build community.
• Facilitate individualized services for Dillingham residents and potential residents that meet the diverse needs of the individual and their self-identified goals.
• Instruct tenants in daily living skills, socialization skill enhancement and conflict resolution.
• Assist in clarifying mental health and recovery goals as appropriate.
• Teach and reinforce effective coping strategies and symptom management skills.
• Assist and support peers in carrying out daily activities such as personal hygiene, nutrition,

education, meal planning, grocery shopping, food preparation, and other household duties.

• Work side by side with the individual to assist them to build financial management skills, access needed entitlements/benefits, reliable transportation, and needed health services through referral, modeling, and support.
• Advocate on behalf of individuals with outside service providers.
• Provide supportive services to increase interpersonal relationships and leisure skills in areas of interest for the individual.
• Assist in maintaining up-to-date, accurate individual records on each assigned individual in the electronic health record, completing recovery capital scales, or DLA20 on an identified basis to ensure measurement-based service outcomes.
• Report to direct Supervisor or Designee any suspected, abuse, neglect or exploitation of recipients.
• Be familiar with PPBH policies and procedures including the securing of emergency services and the regulations concerning medication administration.
• Be familiar with HIPAA regulations and abide by them, assuring individual’s rights are met and maintain consumer confidentiality at all times
• Participate in agency trainings, meetings, and special events.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

CORE COMPETENCIES (Hourly):

• Demonstrated ability to advocate with participants
• Demonstrated ability to keep boundaries and form appropriate professional relationships with participants.
• Demonstrated knowledge supportive housing principles and practices,SAMHSA 
• Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence –Based Practices Kit and SAMHSA Supportive Housing Tenant tools, along with principles of Peer Recovery Support.  
• Demonstrated consistent behaviors in patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with disabilities and other minority populations
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to a flex schedule which allows for evening and weekend hours as may be required to respond to individual needs.
• Completion of required training CEUs and Certifications for Peer Recovery Support Specialist.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and-or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High School Degree or Equivalent
• Peer Support Certificate required (or to be obtained within twelve months of hire)
• 1 - 2 years’ experience working with homeless or low-income individuals, families, those with mental illness (preferred).
• 1-2 years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health diagnosis.
• Flexible work hours.
• Ability to utilize appropriate tools and approaches for empowering clients (i.e. Motivational interviewing)
• Positive coping mechanisms in place and current stability in housing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate maturity and professionalism even in stressful situations.
• Outstanding capacity to build strong relationships with a diverse range of individuals, colleagues, and community partners.
• Compassion for people who are struggling with a variety of challenges, including homelessness, mental health, and/or substance use disorder.
• Commitment to an empowering, person-centered approach to peer support.
• Flexible and adaptable work style.
• Familiarity with social service providers and community resources is preferred.
• Valid FL driver license and required car insurance level with a willingness to travel in the community and transport individuals as needed.
• COMPUTER SKILLS: Must have Intermediate to advanced experience in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point), the use of personal computers, and standard office productivity software. Work within an electronic health record environment.
• LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals, and communicate both verbally and in writing.  Bi-lingual in English and Spanish preferred

REQUIREMENTS:

• A valid Class E Drivers’ License for positions that require driving personal or Agency vehicle on Agency business.
• Must maintain a minimum Bodily Injury & Property Liability insurance limit of at least $50,000 for positions that require driving personal own vehicle (POV) on Agency business. (Proof Required)
• PPBH is a 24/7 Agency.  All employees must be available as needed when required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to per essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop; kneel; crouch; or, and; and talk or hear..

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in a fast-paced work environment.

Salary : $50,000