Peer Specialist II - Twin Lakes (Outpatient)

UPMC•Somerset, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

UPMC Western Behavioral Health is hiring a full-time Peer Specialist II to support the Twin Lakes Outpatient department in Somerset, PA. Peer Specialists II are individuals with lived experience who provide non-clinical support as a fully integrated treatment team member and educator for staff. They are expert role models of recovery values and principles by helping to identify and remove barriers and triggers to treatment for individuals receiving services from inpatient or outpatient programs. The shift for this position is primarily daylight, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm or 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Flexibility to work some evening and/or weekend hours is required. Free parking is available near the Outpatient office in Somerset, PA. Some travel to the Twin Lakes Outpatient office in Bedford, PA may be required. Certified Recovery Specialist certification is strongly preferred.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent.
Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Specialist certification is required.
Demonstrated leadership qualities and mentorship skills.
Minimum of one year of Peer Specialist experience OR applicable employment experience within last 3 years, maintained at least 12 months of successful full or part-time paid or voluntary work experience OR within last 3 years, obtained at least 24 credit hours of post-secondary education and have related, supervised work or volunteer experience, as approved the by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB).
Have lived experience in one or more of the following areas: mental health, substance use disorder, the recovery process and willing to share experiences to the benefit of clients/patients served.
Basic understanding of mental health, wellness, and resiliency.
Progressed in own recovery and have basic understanding of the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility, Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and the importance of using personal and community supports.
Able to articulate to clients/patients, families, and to interested stakeholders that peer support is a non-clinical service to promote recovery and wellness.
Proficient with Office 365 applications, e.g., Microsoft Word, Outlook, Teams, etc.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Nice To Haves

Certified Recovery Specialist certification is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide feedback as appropriate to client, family members, and clinical staff
Assist clients/patients in recovery management including identifying recovery goals, barriers to achieving goals, and strategies to meeting goals
Assist clients/patients in identifying natural supports and resources in the community and educate individuals on how to utilize them in the recovery process
Advocate for clients/patients by actively participating in staff meetings, treatment team meetings, etc. and appropriately voicing the clients'/patients' viewpoint and recovery goals while maintaining alignment with the team
Accompany clients/patients to various community engagement and reintegration activities as appropriate; provide follow-up services to clients/patients in a 1:1 or group setting, by phone, virtually, or by mobile visit; facilitate recovery and wellness related groups; provide individual support
Monitor progress with completing goals and provide feedback as appropriate to clients/patients, family members, and clinical staff
Utilize crisis support to help individuals develop and use action plans for prevention and recovery, create wellness recovery action plans and mental health advanced directives, and other crisis and crisis prevention plans
Maintain all required paperwork and documentation in a timely manner as directed by Supervisor
Provide advanced services to clients in a program setting, community, or in the home as directed by Supervisor
Able to provide educational information and assist clients to make informed decisions
Demonstrates knowledge and application of Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Personal Medicine, and Mental Health Advanced Directives documents and being able to share own recovery experience.
Teach problem solving and social skills to clients individually, or in a group setting, through role modeling, coaching, and skill building in such areas as money management, transportation use, time management, etc.
Maintain professional certification as per CEU requirements
Ability to develop and maintain relationships with community-based treatment agencies and human service providers
Provider services as a non-clinical provider and seek clinical staff for interventions as necessary, sharing pertinent patient information to the appropriate clinical staff