Adult Peer Support Specialist – ACT Position Available In Carroll, New Hampshire

Adult Peer Support Specialist – ACT 3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars 25 West Main Street, Conway, NH 03818

Position Title:

Peer Support Specialist –

ACT Team Reports To:

ACT Program Coordinator or Area Designee

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under general direction of ACT Program Coordinator or local designee and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures, the incumbent is responsible for implementing the treatment plan for consumers and their families. This member of the ACT multidisciplinary team has experience as a recipient of mental health services for severe and persistent mental illness and is willing to use and share his or her personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit the team and its consumers. The peer specialist functions as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and to support the consumer to fully engage in activities leading to in a productive and satisfying life.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Demonstrates an understanding of the Agency’s vision and mission and acts in accordance with it
• Connsistently acts with honesty and integrity, while demonstrating strong commitment to quality services and the interests of individuals served
• Effectively performs job requirements and develops competencies as necessary to perform the job
• Provides outreach services according to the treatment plan
• Provides peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate consumers’ experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to consumers to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Serves as a mentor to consumers to promote hope and empowerment and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
• Helps consumers identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness
• Helps other team members identify and understand culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and develop strategies to eliminate stigma within the team
• May perform professional duties under clinical supervision (with appropriate credentials)
• Provides functional support services to consumers in community settings to teach symptom-management techniques and promote personal growth and development by assisting consumers to cope with internal and external stresses
• Helps to maximize consumer choice, self-determination and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of consumers, families and team staff
• Acts as a liaison with community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions
• Reaches out to persons who may be reluctant to engage in treatment
• Assists in treatment, substance abuse services, education, support and consultation to families, and crisis intervention under the clinical supervision of staff
• Increases awareness of and supports consumer participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
• Performs mentoring, problem solving, encouragement and support on and off the job site including work-related supportive services such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, transportation, etc.
• Provides ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support (prompts, assignments, encouragement), and environmental adaptations to assist consumers with activities of daily living including performing household activities, money-management skills, personal hygiene, and grooming tasks.
• Provides nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation.
• Assists consumers to find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live, apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities (telephone, furniture, utility hook-up, etc.)
• Helps consumers to access reliable transportation (obtain a driver’s license and car insurance, arrange for cabs, use public transportation, and find rides).
• Assists and supports consumers to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Provides side-by-side support, coaching and encouragement to help consumers socialize (going with a client to community activities, including activities offered by consumer-run peer support organizations) and assists in planning and carrying out leisure time activities.
• Organizes and leads individual and group social and recreational activities to help consumers structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
• Provides mentoring, advocacy, coordination, and side-by-side individualized support to help consumers obtain the necessities of daily living, including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services, financial support such as entitlements (SSI, SSDI, veteran’s benefits); housing subsidies (HUD Section 8); money-management services (e.g. payee services); and transportation.
• May perform professional duties under clinical supervision (with appropriate credentials)
• Collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes, understands, and respects each consumer’s point of view, experiences and preferences
• Keeps abreast of changes in local community which may affect consumer opportunities
• Documents all activities in the electronic medical record in a timely and complete manner. This involves a full understanding of how to document client progress in a format that meets quality review standards.
• Attends the Consumer Centered Conference to ensure that the consumer’s needs and goals are being addressed, as assigned
• Maintains contact with consumers’ therapists, case managers, guardians and others as appropriate.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works closely with others; coworkers, parents and/or guardians, schools, employers, V.R. counselors, etc., to maintain open lines of communication as appropriate
• Acts with respect and concern for all staff members
• Provides transportation for persons served as required, which may include transporting in employee’s personal vehicle
• Maintains flexibility of work schedule as necessary
• Demonstrates knowledge of boundary issues, as well as human and civil rights and the importance of confidentiality regarding persons served
• Performs other related duties as required

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field preferred, or high school diploma with at least two years of paid or volunteer work experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses, or be a family member of a consumer, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• The peer specialist who is or has been a recipient of mental health services for severe and persistent mental illness, should have self-knowledge to manage their mental illness and progressing in their personal recovery
• Must have at least one year or greater in recovery absent of any psychiatric crisis or hospitalization
• Must have a strong commitment to the right and the ability of each person with a severe mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services
• Must have skills and competence as defined in the certification process for a peer specialist. Although NH does not have a certification in place at the time of this printing, the ideal candidate will possess a peer certification from another state and / or complete applicable training(s)
• Sensitivity to the culture and values of rural Northern New Hampshire
• Understanding of the interface between outreach specialist role and other agency and community supports
• Handles most routine problems in the community independently and with self direction
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to a reliable and insured vehicle in which one or two consumers can be transported daily
• Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in a clear, constructive and objective manner
• Basic computer skill including the ability to navigate Agency’s computer system to access required forms and policies

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Frequently travels throughout community with persons served, and occasionally spends time in an office environment
• Routinely communicates face-to-face, on the telephone and in writing, requiring strong interpersonal skills
• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time, speak, listen, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel and crouch
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls
• Occasionally operates computer, printer, calculator, and telephone, requiring hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity
• Required to lift/carry an average of 10-50 pounds; might be required to transfer, move or lift consumers; all such transfers, moves or lifts of consumers need to be in accordance with safety procedures as trained, including two person assists if warranted (10-193)

Job Type:

Part-time Pay:

$16.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Mileage reimbursement Paid time off Vision insurance

Schedule:

Day shift Monday to

Friday Work Location:

In person