What are the responsibilities and job description for the Certified Peer Specialist - Public Health position at Rockingham County Government?
JOB
Rockingham County is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with federal and state statutes regarding discrimination in employment.Paid Medical, Dental, Vision & Life InsuranceOnsite wellness/medical clinicOnsite fitness centerRetirementFlexible SpendingPaid Vacation, Sick & HolidaysBereavementCommunity Service LeaveWeekends Off (varies by position)Flexible Work Schedules & Telework Options (varies by position)Tuition Reimbursement401-K & 457 PlansThe Peer Specialist (PS) is an active member of the Local Health Department and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. This position will serve as a coordinator within the FIT Program. The North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program coordinates with existing state and local resources to assist formerly incarcerated individuals suffering from chronic disease with all aspects of successful reentry, focusing on linkages to essential medical services. Primary responsibilities will include connecting people who have been recently released from incarceration with chronic disease, mental illness and/or substance use disorder to appropriate health care services and help put together a comprehensive reentry plan working with local reentry partners. Work will be provided under the supervision of the Director of Nursing.The Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in outpatient and inpatient settings. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own reentry process. Reentry resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets and other written materials will be utilized by the Peer Specialist in the provision of services.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Using a formal goal setting process, the PS will: • Assist clients in articulating personal goals for reentry through the use o find individual and group sessions. During these sessions the PS will support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing reentry plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals • Assist clients in working with their treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery. • Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of 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 reentry plans. • Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized 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 to mental health services, the PS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use. As much as possible, the PS will share their own reentry story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own reentry. • 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 which allows group members and PS to share their experiences. • 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 job acquisition and tenure utilizing their reentry experience, the PS will: • Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience. • Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her 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. • Utilize the PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies. • Serve as a reentry agent by providing and advocating for any effective reentry based services that will aid the client in daily living. • Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual’s reentry needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform clients about community and natural supports and how to use these in the reentry process. Community resources may include but not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, 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 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. • With assistance from the Program Manager, the Peer Specialist will work with the clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/reentry plan based on each client’s identified goals. Treatment/Reentry Plans will be reviewed and signed by the Program Manager and other participating treatment team staff. The PS will document the following on the client’s treatment/reentry plan: a. identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and reentry goals b. interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for reentry. 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 reentry materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support reentry-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered. Knowledge Required by the Position: Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate reentry 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 and /or substance abuse (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 and/or substance abuse. Community resources may include but are not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, 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/substance abuse consumers on their strengths and interests. A valid driver’s license is required as some driving and/or transportation may be required to take clients to medical appointments, job sites, social activities and other community resources. Willingness to work in various environments, including prison/jail settings, and home visits at SRO or patient’s residenceComplexity: 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. The actions to be taken or responses to be made, such as advice to the client, will differ depending on the facts of the situation. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee will sit to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as books, papers, etc.; accessing transportation and driving a government car or van.
Rockingham County is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with federal and state statutes regarding discrimination in employment.Paid Medical, Dental, Vision & Life InsuranceOnsite wellness/medical clinicOnsite fitness centerRetirementFlexible SpendingPaid Vacation, Sick & HolidaysBereavementCommunity Service LeaveWeekends Off (varies by position)Flexible Work Schedules & Telework Options (varies by position)Tuition Reimbursement401-K & 457 PlansThe Peer Specialist (PS) is an active member of the Local Health Department and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. This position will serve as a coordinator within the FIT Program. The North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program coordinates with existing state and local resources to assist formerly incarcerated individuals suffering from chronic disease with all aspects of successful reentry, focusing on linkages to essential medical services. Primary responsibilities will include connecting people who have been recently released from incarceration with chronic disease, mental illness and/or substance use disorder to appropriate health care services and help put together a comprehensive reentry plan working with local reentry partners. Work will be provided under the supervision of the Director of Nursing.The Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in outpatient and inpatient settings. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own reentry process. Reentry resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets and other written materials will be utilized by the Peer Specialist in the provision of services.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Using a formal goal setting process, the PS will: • Assist clients in articulating personal goals for reentry through the use o find individual and group sessions. During these sessions the PS will support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing reentry plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals • Assist clients in working with their treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery. • Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of 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 reentry plans. • Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized 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 to mental health services, the PS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use. As much as possible, the PS will share their own reentry story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own reentry. • 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 which allows group members and PS to share their experiences. • 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 job acquisition and tenure utilizing their reentry experience, the PS will: • Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience. • Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her 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. • Utilize the PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies. • Serve as a reentry agent by providing and advocating for any effective reentry based services that will aid the client in daily living. • Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual’s reentry needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform clients about community and natural supports and how to use these in the reentry process. Community resources may include but not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, 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 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. • With assistance from the Program Manager, the Peer Specialist will work with the clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/reentry plan based on each client’s identified goals. Treatment/Reentry Plans will be reviewed and signed by the Program Manager and other participating treatment team staff. The PS will document the following on the client’s treatment/reentry plan: a. identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and reentry goals b. interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for reentry. 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 reentry materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support reentry-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered. Knowledge Required by the Position: Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate reentry 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 and /or substance abuse (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 and/or substance abuse. Community resources may include but are not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, 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/substance abuse consumers on their strengths and interests. A valid driver’s license is required as some driving and/or transportation may be required to take clients to medical appointments, job sites, social activities and other community resources. Willingness to work in various environments, including prison/jail settings, and home visits at SRO or patient’s residenceComplexity: 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. The actions to be taken or responses to be made, such as advice to the client, will differ depending on the facts of the situation. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee will sit to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as books, papers, etc.; accessing transportation and driving a government car or van.
