What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Support Specialist position at Veterans Recovery Resources?
Duties and responsibilities
The Peer Support Specialist uses VRR’s unique clinical approach to demonstrate and share lived experiences with clients and patients across the VRR continuum of care. The PSS will assist veterans, first responders, military members and families by offering supportive services including community referrals and resources and most importantly, hope. The PSS supports clients with mental illness through shared recovery experience.
Responsibilities include:
The Peer Support Specialist uses VRR’s unique clinical approach to demonstrate and share lived experiences with clients and patients across the VRR continuum of care. The PSS will assist veterans, first responders, military members and families by offering supportive services including community referrals and resources and most importantly, hope. The PSS supports clients with mental illness through shared recovery experience.
Responsibilities include:
- Collect data from clients at intake and follow-ups
- Document all services and submit in a timely and accurate manner
- Coordinate client care within VRR and with courts, social service organizations, regional medical centers/clinics and other health care organizations to ensure proper working relations.
- Complete home/community visits.
- Implement life skills education.
- Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
- Provide peer services in an individual and group setting as needed
- Assist clients in identifying barriers to recovery, relapse warning signs and problem-solving/coping skills.
- Answer the clinic phone and provide current, reliable information to callers; direct calls to other staff.
- Assist clients in understanding their mental illness & developing support systems that will aid recovery.
- Share personal experience with mental illness as appropriate and serve as a role model in promoting recovery.
- Provide and bill for peer services as medically necessary & according to established individual treatment plan
- Maintain necessary administrative & clinical documentation of service activities
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Completion of a high school diploma or GED.
- Must be in recovery from a diagnosed mental illness
- Concurrent participation in clinical supervision by a licensed or certified QSAP I, required
- ADMH Peer Support certification (required) or must be eligible to obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
- Must be able to pass alcohol and drug screen.
- Must have and maintain a current driver’s license. Obtain and maintain Driver’s Clearance and vehicle insurance.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to maintain highly confidential information, including working knowledge of HIPAA and understanding of privacy, confidentiality and therapeutic boundaries
- Ability to develop and maintain rapport with personally and culturally diverse clients
- Ability to work collaboratively in an inter-disciplinary team environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust among coworkers, clients and the community.
- Willingness to gain understanding about cultural humility and other principles of trauma-informed care, person-centered care, evidence-based practice, and military cultural competence
- Problem-solving and other recovery support services, navigation of regional health care system, transportation services, and linkage to housing and other social services
- Knowledgeable about cultural humility and other principles of trauma-informed care,
- person-centered care, evidence-based practice, and military cultural competence,
- Willingness to commit to VRR’s organizational values (Integrity, Compassion and Respect) and strategic direction.
Supervisory relationships
- Reports directly to the Clinical Director
- Provides no direct supervision.
Amount of travel and any other special conditions or requirements
- Local travel in Mobile and Baldwin Counties (estimated 200 miles per month)
- Reliable transportation and state-mandated minimum vehicle insurance coverage
Salary range & FLSA status
- Hourly, Non-exempt
Hours per day or week
Full-time position at 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
