Peer Support Specialist /Parent Support Partner (MRSS)

SCCMHA JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Peer Support Specialist /Parent Support Partner (MRSS)

PAY GRADE: $16.11 - $18.44 Hourly

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general supervision of Mental Health Supervisor and Site Program Supervisor (Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, MRSS), provides mental health services as a member of a mobile, community-based crisis intervention team to residents of Saginaw County. Serves all target populations including adults with mental illness, youth with emotional disturbance, individuals with developmental disabilities, and individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders. In addition, provides crisis intervention services within community settings such as schools, adult and youth foster care homes, private residences, and others, with the purpose of assisting those experiencing a mental health crisis and/or who may need assistance accessing ongoing mental health services. Serves as a model for others that recovery/independence can be achieved and is willing to share their story of recovery. Works as a member of a multi-departmental group with SCCMHA Crisis Intervention Services, Central Access and Intake and Care Management with shared performance goals related to access, persons served satisfaction, and risk management. Coordinates with adult and youth mental health service providers to ensure persons served may access the most appropriate level of care in an outpatient setting. Provides consultation to law enforcement and co-responds to crises as appropriate. Must be able to work a variable shift schedule as needed. Available for assignment to the schedule 24 hours per day, seven (7) days per week, including holidays. This position will be knowledgeable about and actively support culturally competent recovery-based practices; person-centered planning as a shared decision-making process with the individual, who defines his/her life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals; and a trauma-informed culture of safety to aid persons served in the recovery process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

As part of a two-person response team, this position will:

1. Respond to any non-imminently life-threatening psychiatric or behavioral symptoms that are disrupting a persons served functioning or the family system by providing immediate intervention to assist in de-escalation and stabilization of the presenting situation.

2. Assist in providing crisis intervention for persons served in crisis which may include suicidality, emotional dysregulation, family interpersonal conflict, youth noncompliance with parental/identified guardian’s directives, substance use, emergency shelter, domestic violence, or other psychosocial issues.

3. Respond to emergency phone calls (via the MRSS or 24-hour crisis telephone lines) from community agencies, persons served (youth, families, and adults) to help alleviate mental health crises.

4. Utilize crisis de-escalation techniques with an awareness of the safety of self, other clinical staff, and persons served in the environment.

5. Build partnerships with parents and professionals and promote open and respectful attitudes by demonstrating the ability to learn the story, culture, strengths and concerns of families they serve.

6. Mobile Response and Stabilization Services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, with weekends and holidays included. Staff should demonstrate a high level of flexibility in available work hours, with no specific work schedule guaranteed. The function of the program necessitates a strong team adherence to standards of attendance.

7. Function as a member of a triage team providing urgent screening and intervention with the goal of diverting inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations and youth incarceration when appropriate.

8. Coach families to navigate the system by providing information and teaching families how to access and obtain community resources. Become knowledgeable about all services throughout the SCCMHA Network and in the community to clearly explain families’ options. Guide families to services most appropriate to their needs/desires.

9. Mobilize security, police, medical response, or crisis response as appropriate.

10. Work closely with SCCMHA Crisis Intervention Services to provide follow-up care and assistance to persons served diverted from an inpatient treatment setting.

11. Collaborate with clinicians from Central Access and Intake, Crisis Intervention Services, and Care Management departments regarding the immediate needs of the persons served.

12. Convey information clearly and concisely to team members at the end of scheduled shift.

13. Coordinate services of the MRSS team with other community agencies; police, schools, hospitals, courts, to identify and obtain emergency resources and services for youth, families, and adults in a mental health crisis.

14. Demonstrate an understanding of the intentional and unintentional effect of his/her own professional demeanor in response to individuals who are demonstrating signs and symptoms of a psychiatric or behavioral crisis.

15. May provide a warning contact to individuals who have been threatened with harm. May make reports to Child and Adult Protective Services according to state law.

16. Maintain records, reports, and legal documents in the electronic medical record.

17. Adhere to the mission, vision, core values and operating principles of SCCMHA at all times.

18. Adhere to state crisis response time requirements (within 2 hours of initial request for intervention).

INCIDENTAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

1. May attend meetings, workshops, or other public mental health activities to assist the community.

2. May perform various administrative functions such as preparing reports and appearing in court.

3. Attends meetings, seminars, workshops, and community events related to the public mental health mission to sustain professional competency.

4. Performs various administrative/clerical functions such as preparing travel vouchers, making copies of documents, scanning documents, filing, etc.

5. Reacts productively to change and handles other tasks as assigned.

6. Provides outreach services with supervisor approval.

7. Performs Quality improvement duties as interested or assigned.

8. Speaks on mental health issues to public groups with supervisor approval.

9. Provides psychoeducation to persons served, families, and community members as needed.

10. Will require working overnight, weekday and weekend shifts and holidays as needed.

11. Ability to use computer hardware and software.

12. Other incidental duties as assigned.

(The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of personnel so classified.)

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to: Mental Health Supervisor (MRSS), Site Program Supervisor (MRSS)

Supervises: None

WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT:

Works in schools, family homes, and other community settings to provide services to persons served as a member of a treatment unit. Must be able to work a variable shift schedule as needed. Close contact with people who may have a communicable disease or may be hostile with a potential for violence. Frequently drives personal or agency automobile in all kinds of weather conditions. Works in an office environment with pressures of dealing with time constraints. Utilizes computers for documentation, data collection, spreadsheets, etc. May co-respond to crises in the community with law enforcement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: High school diploma or GED, some postsecondary education preferred.

Experience: Parent or caregiver of a child (or children) with serious emotional disturbances and or intellectual/developmental disabilities who has received services from one or more of the community agencies (mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, and/or special education). OR Has received behavioral health services and has lived experience participating in mental health treatment and navigating public behavioral health systems.

Currently employed as one of the following, preferred: Peer Support Specialist, Youth Peer Support Specialist, Parent Support Partner, or Family Guide.

Has a basic understanding of the SCCMHA eligibility criteria and services available to persons served/families. Has demonstrated knowledge of and experience working with individuals and families and supporting them to needed services. Has experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders and navigating a public mental health agency.

Licenses and Credentials: Valid Michigan Driver’s license with a good driving record.

Must have or attain within six (6) months of hire certification through Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) as one of the following: Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Youth Peer Support Specialist (CYPSS), or Certified Parent Support Partner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team and with community partners.

2. Ability to create collaborative relationships with individuals from all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

3. Ability to contribute to a LBGTQIA -affirming environment.

4. Ability to work well with individuals of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

5. Ability to facilitate communication between individuals with differing views.

6. Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

7. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

8. Knowledge of mental health programs for youth, adults, and families in Saginaw County.

9. Knowledge of Michigan mental health code as well as mandating reporting requirements and other licensing requirements as stipulated by LARA.

10. Ability to engage in crisis de-escalation techniques.

11. Excellent communications skills with respect to listening, oral, written, and public speaking.

12. Ability to handle individuals who may be disruptive or potentially violent.

13. Ability to embrace and practice the concepts associated with recovery.

14. Ability to engage with persons served and the public in a welcoming and engaging manner.

15. Ability to practice from a philosophy that all persons should receive services in the least restrictive setting.

16. Ability to plan, organize, and complete work in a timely fashion.

17. Ability to be flexible and creative in plan development.

18. Ability to accept and implement constructive supervision.

19. Ability to function independently without immediate access to supervision and to respond to crises with a calm demeanor and good judgment.

Physical/Mental Requirements:

1. Hearing acuity to converse in person and on telephone.

2. Visual Acuity to observe persons served behaviors read and proofread documents and use CRT.

3. Ability to walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time.

4. Manual dexterity to write and to operate standard office equipment (PC, Keyboard, Copy Machine, Fax Machine, etc.)

5. Ability to lift and carry files and supplies at least 20 pounds.

6. Ability to implement Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Verbal De-escalation training as needed.

7. Strong interpersonal skills to interact with leadership, employees, persons served and the general public.

8. Analytical skills necessary to conduct research, analyze, and interpret complex data and identify and solve problems by proposing courses of action.

9. Dependable with data collection and reporting requirements.

10. Ability to plan short and long range and to manage and schedule time.

11. Ability to handle stress in meeting deadlines and dealing with large numbers of employees and/or persons served.

12. Open to receiving continuing education in the field.

(Listed qualifications are for guidance in filling this position. Any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered; however, mandatory licensing or certification requirements cannot be waived. Physical/mental requirements cannot be waived unless specifically indicated.)