Certified Peer Specialist - Adult Outpatient Program

Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority • Montgomery, AL

4d

About The Position

A Certified Peer Specialist in the Adult Outpatient Program utilizes their lived experience with Serious Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder by sharing their recovery journey to serve as a support agent for individuals in the program. Employees in this position are responsible for supporting consumers in their goals individually and as a team with consumers, promoting self-determination and recovery, and modeling self-advocacy skills.

Requirements

• Reliable transportation and willingness to transport clients.
• Treat consumers with care, dignity, and compassion
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the clients’ needs, expectations, and differences.
• Remain gentle and calm
• Certification through Department of Mental Health as a Certified Peer Specialist.

Nice To Haves

• Must complete and pass ADMH Certified Peer Specialist training within 90 days of hire.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must maintain a driving record that is acceptable to the Carastar's insurance carrier.
• Must maintain at least liability coverage on personal vehicles.
• Must maintain current CPI and Red Cross First Aid/CPR certifications.

Responsibilities

• Share your personal story to assist consumers in their recovery journey.
• Promote self-determination, recover, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assist individuals in identifying strengths, wellness goals, setting objectives, and identifying barriers.
• Assist the individual in goal planning and participate with the individual in the development of their recovery plan.
• Assist the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in the community.
• Engage individuals in other programs and services to encourage recovery.
• Teach wellness management strategies and help individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in the workplace and in their personal lives; use manualized strategies such as (IMR/ Illness Management and Recovery, WMR/Wellness Management and Recovery, WRAP/Well Recovery Action Planning), and others.
• Connect to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolations.
• Provide education to other team providers to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, and integrated into service delivery.
• Encourage consumers to identify goals and create action plans in tandem with the treatment team to reach them.
• Foster hope and approach the individual’s skills from a strengths-based perspective.
• Practice culturally responsive communication and interaction with individuals and their families and/or natural supports.
• Act as a resource and safe person for consumers to approach with questions, concerns, and accomplishments.
• Facilitate trainings and groups as scheduled and requested.
• Attend staff and agency meetings, trainings, and other events as scheduled and approved by supervisor.
• Provide follow-up to individuals who accessed the crisis response system and/or the Crisis Center.
• Seek supervision and consultation as needed.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follow Carastar Health’s policies and procedures.
• Attend required meetings, in-service trainings, and other workshops.
• Maintain confidential files containing required information for each supported employment consumer.
• Maintain documentation for individuals receiving services.
• Provide timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid, and others.
• Treat consumers with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the consumer’s needs, expectations, and individual differences.
• Remain gentle and calm with consumers and families.
• Actively participate in Performance Improvement activities.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Actively participate in Carastar Health committees as required.
• Follow Carastar Health policies and procedures.
• Attend required in-service training and other workshops.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED