ACT Certified Peer Specialist

Mental Health Resources•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The ACT Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist is a member of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and shares responsibility for providing rehabilitation services and supports that help people work toward their recovery goals. The role promotes individualized recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction, while ensuring each person’s perspectives and preferences are recognized, respected, and incorporated into treatment. The specialist provides strengths-based education and skill-building in areas such as accessing community resources, building relationships, and participating in community activities. Working with each person and the team, the specialist helps develop and deliver an Individual Treatment Plan that supports the person in living as independently as possible in the community. The position is based in Hennepin County. A four-day work-week option is available, and the schedule is primarily Monday through Friday during daytime hours.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must have a primary diagnosis of mental illness.
Must be a current or former consumer of mental health services.
Must have successfully completed the DHS-approved Certified Peer Specialist training and certification exam.
Must meet at least one of the following: be qualified at the Mental Health Practitioner level as defined by Minnesota Statute 245.462, subdivision 17; have at least 6,000 hours of supervised experience delivering peer services to people with mental illness; or have at least 4,000 hours of supervised experience delivering services to people with mental illness plus an additional 2,000 hours of supervised experience delivering peer services to people with mental illness.

Nice To Haves

Spanish, Hmong, or Somali language skills; a $1,000 salary bonus may be available for passing the language proficiency exam.

Responsibilities

Work with each person and the ACT team to develop an individualized plan of services and supports that helps the person live as independently as possible in the community.
Assist with skill development in areas such as budgeting, housing, transportation, hygiene appointments, relationship building, symptom management, medication administration, and obtaining or maintaining benefits.
Maintain awareness of each person’s medication adherence plan; help the person carry it out, evaluate whether the plan is adequate, report problems, and recommend modifications as needed.
At the person’s request, collaborate with and educate significant others and family members who want to support the person’s recovery.
Advocate for each person’s rights and privacy and ensure that they understand complaint and grievance procedures.
Treat people with dignity and respect, providing services that are respectful of age, gender, and culture.
Coach, mentor, and consult with individuals and their families to promote recovery, wellness management, self-advocacy, and self-direction, and to assist with advance directives.
Model recovery values, attitudes, beliefs, and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
Promptly communicate changes in each person’s status or needs to the team to support continuity of care.
Provide services as developed by the person and team and documented in the Individual Treatment Plan.
Provide coverage for team members during illness or crisis to maintain continuity of care.
Participate in scheduled staff meetings and trainings unless excused by the immediate supervisor.
Consult with team members and promote a culture in which each person’s perspectives and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment.
Protect confidentiality and privacy in accordance with MHR policies and procedures.
Complete MHR documentation on time and in accordance with MHR policies and procedures.

Benefits

Starting pay of $22.56 per hour, increased based on education and experience.
A $1,000 salary bonus may be available for passing the language proficiency exam.
Up to 8 hours of clinical supervision per month toward LICSW, LCSW, LPC, and LPCC licensure.
Intensive two-week initial orientation and ongoing in-house training.
iPhone, laptop computer, and Wi-Fi provided for community-based staff.
Health insurance, including family health coverage, with employee costs described as among the top 6% of the most affordable health care options.
Competitive dental insurance.
Automatic enrollment in a retirement plan after one year, with a 3% employer contribution.
Nine paid holidays and 18 days of accrued paid time off during the first year.
Annual merit-based salary increases.
Four-day work-week option.