HSS - Peer Specialist I

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless•Denver, CO

16h•$21 - $25•Hybrid

About The Position

This position will be posted for a minimum of 5 days. The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves. We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and healthcare are available to everyone. We create lasting solutions to homelessness by: Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities, and fostering their hope that a better life is possible; Building strong, caring, and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care, and supportive services; Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion, and diversity and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve; Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation, and professional development; Using resources judiciously and effectively. Through lived experience that includes recovery from substance use, homelessness, and/or effective treatment of mental health conditions, the Peer Specialist offers insight & first-hand knowledge to support clients, families, and their integrated teams. You will work to support clients with various challenges to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals by focusing on strengths, empowerment, and advocacy.

Requirements

Basic Life Support Certification required within 30 days of employment.
Must have and maintain in good standing, a Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire (with the exception of Ft. Lyon & Transitional Housing roles)
Must be a person with lived experience including substance use disorders, homelessness support services, and/or mental health challenges with prior and/or ongoing recovery activity
Demonstrates a clear understanding of confidentiality protocols & adheres to privacy laws/organizational policies regarding sensitive information.
Recognizes professional boundaries and identifies potential conflicts of interests to maintain ethical standards in interactions with clients, coworkers, and stakeholders.
Establishes trust and rapport with individuals, even in challenging or sensitive situations, to foster openness and respect.
Adheres to all state, county, and organization policies/laws regarding mandatory reporting.
Ability to effectively interface and utilize technology to complete work.
Must be able to communicate effectively with others.
Must be able to remain calm, think clearly, and apply sound judgement in high-pressure situations.

Nice To Haves

Completion of accredited Peer Specialist training program highly preferred.
Bi-lingual English-Spanish and/or ASL preferred
Prior peer mentoring experience serving individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and/or homelessness highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides mentorship and support to clients through personal lived experience to build skills in goal setting & problem solving with an emphasis on individual strengths, resilience, and empowerment.
Facilitates counseling and activities for clients in recovery from substance use disorders in individual or group settings to promote connection and agency.
Helps clients coordinate & navigate critical integrated services including healthcare, housing assistance, and behavioral health in partnership with internal teams & outside community partners.
Transports and/or escorts clients to scheduled appointments at Coalition properties and elsewhere as needed using a CCH vehicle or an approved personal vehicle. CCH employees must have access to reliable vehicles outside of CCH fleet.
Collaborates alongside Coalition staff to foster trusting relationships with clients and ensure services provided are timely while aligned to individual goals.
Responsible for ongoing client outreach within the community to monitor needs that are recovery-oriented.
Ensure timely & accurate recording of all clinical/non-clinical services, communications, and tasks in the EHR and other systems as required while maintaining complete up-to-date charts and any future upgrades as directed.
Performs other job duties as assigned.