Peer Leadership Coordinator

Vinfen•Everett, MA

13d

About The Position

The Peer Leadership Coordinator (PLC) works in one of the Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Access Centers (ACs) to coordinate YYA leadership activities, conduct engagement activities and ensure youth voice is reflected throughout the AC. The PLC is a key member of the AC leadership team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in human services discipline strongly preferred
Certified Peer Specialist required
Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions as well as being well along in own recovery required
Two to three years working with YYA experiencing co-occurring disorders in addition to psychiatric conditions required
A fully insured vehicle that you will use in the course of daily work and willingness to provide transport to YYA
Ability to form solid connections with YYA with mental health concerns
Knowledge of both the DMH Child Youth and Family and Adult services systems
Willing to use and share personal, practical experience of recovery process and wellness management
All candidates for this position must be at least 21 years of age and have held a valid US driver's license for at least 6 months. Additionally, candidates must be able to successfully pass a CORI, driving record, employment and multi-state background check. All candidates must be able to become CPR, First Aid certified within two weeks of hire.
Ability to form solid connections with YYA with mental health concerns
Manage all aspects of the PLC job
Knowledge of both the DMH Child Youth and Family and Adult services systems
Skilled in the use of Achieve My Plan
Ability to liaison between the Leadership Council and Program Leadership as needed
Skilled in mediation and conflict resolution
Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for YYA to have a full and satisfying life in the community
Strong commitments to the right and ability of people with psychiatric disability to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, and principles and modalities
Ability to learn and use evidence-based approaches and approaches
Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with YYA served by the AC
Commitment to maintain confidentiality of YYA
Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques
Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender/gender identity differences of YYA
Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of YYA
Knowledge of community and other resources
Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team
Ability to use crisis intervention techniques and relapse prevention techniques
Ability to balance competing priorities
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment
Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions and be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one’s own health) required.
Two to three years working with YYA experiencing co-occurring disorders in addition to psychiatric conditions required.
Valid driver’s license preferred.
Access to an operational and insured vehicle and willingness to use it to transport YYA preferred.
May be called on to drive for Vinfen using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check. If driving, must maintain a safe driving record, which is subject to annual checks. If using a personal vehicle, must possess and maintain adequate insurance.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position. Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways. Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.For positions in day programs or group residences, the ability to assist in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, shoveling, and grocery shopping.
CPR required within two weeks of hire
First Aid required within two weeks of hire
NET required
Certified Peer Specialist
GIFT co-Trainer within one year of hire

Nice To Haves

Preference given to bi-lingual/bi-cultural applicants, LGBTQ+ applicants, and Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) applicants.

Responsibilities

Works with YYA (if YYA chooses) to enhance skills of self-direction and empowerment.
Provides outreach and engagement activities that lead to the establishment of a Young Adult Leadership Council.
Provides outreach and marketing efforts to educate YYA and other stakeholders in the community about the program and services offered.
Acts as staff liaison to the Young Adult Leadership Council.
Promotes YYA participation in other local and statewide leadership councils, such as the Department of Mental Health (DMH) Statewide Mental Health Planning Council Youth Development Subcommittee.
As a member of SEAC leadership team, ensures YYA decision making power is present in all aspects of the SEAC operation.
Supports YYA and facilitates and promotes YYA voice in policy and programmatic decisions and service design and improvement to ensure services are relevant.
Coordinates the inclusion of YYA in the interview and hiring of all staff positions.
Arranges trainings/forums in collaboration with the SEAC Director that are based on YYA feedback and are opportunities through networking efforts for YYA to give back to the community.
Helps YYA in developing supportive relationships and community connections.
Helps YYA in communicating and working effectively with service providers, employers, natural supports, family members, and others to achieve their goals.
Promotes healthy lifestyles and wellness practices including substance misuse.
Educates DMH and SEAC staff around engagement strategies that retain YYA in services.
Helps YYA in developing life skills, finding their voice, and identifying and using their strengths.
Uses Achieve My Plan, Gathering, and Inspiring Future Talent, motivational interviewing, harm reductions and other evidence information/based and best practice models as trained, models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
Performs other duties, as assigned.
Develops volunteer opportunities through networking efforts for YYA to give back to the community.
Promotes discovery and recovery as they use their own lived experience in a purposeful, strength-based way to support YYA.
Inspires hope and future focus in YYA.
Provides social activities for YYA, whether at the AC or in the community.
Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings.
Helps YYA develop self-advocacy skills, in groups or individually.
Helps maximize choices available to YYA as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of their services.
Helps YYA link to other community services and peer networks, both in person and virtual, including services and networks for people with co-occurring disorders – including mutual help and peer support groups.
Provides crisis intervention, when needed.

Benefits

A fully funded, employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance along with the option to purchase additional, voluntary, Short-Term disability insurance
Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance
Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week):
15 days of Vacation per year
11 Paid Holidays
10 Sick Days per year
3 Personal Days per year
Educational Assistance and Remission Programs
$500 Employee Referral Bonus with no annual cap!
Other generous benefits including discounted YMCA memberships, access to discounted movie tickets and more!