Crisis Peer Support Specialist (2830)

JOURNEY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INC•Madison, WI

1d•$21 - $24

About The Position

The Peer Specialist is a team member who self-identifies with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges. The Peer Specialist is responsible for assisting and empowering peer consumers by identifying a main concern and developing strength-based plans that includes measurable goals and objectives. This individual helps fellow peers cultivate their independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem. The Peer Specialist empowers other people with substance use/mental health symptoms to explore new options, resources, relationships, feelings, attitudes, and rights. The Peer Specialist offers their experience of recovery while working within a multidisciplinary team setting. This position involves working evenings and weekends to ensure that the clinical needs of the program are being met and to enable the program to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The individual is a mentor, educator, and advocate for consumers. The Peer Specialist reports to the Clinical Team Manager with overall program supervision by the Director. The minimum annual service hours are 676. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Journey Mental Health Center upholds a strong commitment to People, Opportunities, Community, and Access (POCA) that guides our daily operations. We foster a caring community for all individuals to feel a sense of belonging. We prioritize delivering services that are centered around ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all. We are dedicated to demonstrating courage and initiative within our agency and community to actively dismantle structural oppression for all affected communities.

Requirements

Current certification as a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist.
Person with self-identified lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Strong commitment to principles of recovery and trauma informed care.
Commitment to work toward improving cultural sensitivity and inclusion as demonstrated by valuing diversity, recognizing personal limitations and having the desire to improve.
Self-starter who enjoys working independently.
Ability to view consumer needs and choices as high priority.
Ability to balance multiple job duties and remain organized.
Experience that demonstrates strong desire to help others.
Knowledge of federal and state laws governing the handling of confidential information.
Ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing).
Possession of a valid driver's license, a favorable driving record, adequate insurance (per WI law) and access to a vehicle with willingness to use it for work (i.e. transporting consumers).

Nice To Haves

Lived experience with substance abuse and/or using medication assisted treatment.
Experience completing professional documentation.
Computer skills (internet, email, Word).
Knowledge or experience accessing resources, such as housing, recreational activities, medical, etc.
Bi-lingual, and/or bi-cultural (Spanish/Hmong/Cambodian).

Responsibilities

Work with consumers to engage in mental health/substance use treatment, including building skills around their own mental health/substance use recovery and management of symptoms.
Work with consumers to learn healthy coping skills & self-care.
Work with consumers to locate community resources such as food pantries, volunteer activities, social outlets.
Meet with peer consumers in their own homes, the community, at designated offices and by phone as needed to ensure continued consumer satisfaction and progress towards goals.
Assist peer consumer in carrying out treatment/goal plan.
Attend weekly supervision and consultation meetings.
Maintain appropriate positive, professional interpersonal relationships with staff, peers, consumers, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Attend and participate in trainings as interested and required with supervisor approval.
Maintain professional boundaries and abide by all applicable ethical and legal standards, including confidentiality and treatment rights.
Support peer consumers in crisis; ensure their safety, assess for risk factors, and consult with other members of the treatment team.