Consumer Services Assistant 2 - Minimum Qualifications Waived

State of Nevada • Sparks, NV

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (NNAMHS) in Sparks is seeking a full-time Peer Support Specialist/Consumer Services Assistant 2 (CSA). CSAs are adults with a mental illness who are employed to provide advocacy, peer support, and modeling of recovery-oriented behaviors for clients at NNAMHS. These positions will work inpatient and outpatient based on agency need. CSAs provide several supportive services at NNAMHS by assisting with client activities, conducting meet and greet sessions with new admission to the inpatient hospital, and facilitating peer specialist related group and individual sessions. CSAs act as peer advocates; model positive behaviors; and provide the powerful affirmation that recovery is possible. Assist professional staff by performing advocacy and service improvement activities on behalf of clients in mental health service agencies; performing a variety of routine support services; acting as liaison among staff, community and clients; and modeling behavior supportive of client recovery goals.

Requirements

• Ability to read and write standard business correspondence
• One year of mental health consumer advocacy experience, six months of which included working for a mental health service delivery system which included monitoring and reporting to professional staff on client progress, providing client perspective to service providers, and providing peer support such as assisting clients to present complaints and resolve problems, complete forms, and adjust to changes in levels of care; OR six months experience as a Consumer Services Assistant 1 in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of national mental health advocacy efforts and groups
• Knowledge of mental health services available in Nevada
• Knowledge of active listening techniques such as the use of verbal and non-verbal cues
• General knowledge of federal and State regulations related to mental health client rights
• General knowledge of basic techniques used to assist clients in developing independent living skills such as role modeling, coaching and prompting
• General knowledge of basic de-escalation techniques
• General knowledge of group dynamics
• Ability to participate as a team or committee member
• Ability to establish rapport with consumers of mental health services with varied social and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to communicate consumer/client perspective to staff, management, and in public meetings
• Ability to write progress notes and basic correspondence using appropriate grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and vocabulary

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support to clients; assist clients in completing forms; provide basic clarification of agency processes, client rights and options to assist professional staff; encourage participation in support networks; assist clients to adjust to transitions in levels of care, and new services or residential support; make home visits; perform basic client de-escalation techniques; interpret and apply division and agency policies and procedures regarding client rights, confidentiality, abuse and neglect; monitor and report to professional staff on client progress; identify and report problems; record appropriate case-related information and complete progress notes.
• Contact clients to inquire about needed services; collect and disseminate information regarding educational and community resources and activities; assist clients in applying for social services; assist with scheduling appointments for clients and remind them of appointments; write related correspondence; accompany clients to scheduled appointments and coordinate or provide transportation as required.
• Represent client perspective to service providers and to the community; assist clients to present complaints and resolve problems; participate in community organizations, local advisory boards and stakeholder meetings as a consumer representative; actively promote quality of life for persons with mental and emotional disabilities.
• Assist in monitoring the quality of services provided to clients; participate in the development and use of satisfaction surveys and service improvement plans by providing the clients’ perspective.
• Assist professional staff with client self-help sessions and group activities; encourage client participation and discussion track attendance; and lead peer support activity groups as required.
• Assist clients through demonstration and coaching to develop independent living skills such as housekeeping, shopping and use of public transportation; coordinate companion or training program activities.
• Assist in office operation by greeting clients, answering telephones, entering information into a computer, scheduling facilities or rooms, and setting up meeting rooms.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed