Peer Specialist

Vinfen•Lowell, MA

4d•$24 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

The Peer Specialist is a person who is currently in recovery from and has lived experience with mental health disorders or co-occurring disorders and is able to provide support and act as a mentor to clients to make positive life changes to support the client's own recovery journey. The Peer Specialist assists the client in developing recovery strategies, connecting to community-based and mental health recovery-oriented resources. The role supports the outpatient clinical and care coordination teams, participates in treatment planning and recommends strategies to better engage clients in care.

Requirements

Lived experience with addiction and/or co-occurring mental health disorders with at least 3 years in recovery; training or has demonstrated experience in working with peers to help then explore recovery, gain hope, and achieve life goals.
Must be able to become CPR and First Aid certified within two weeks of hire.
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 6 months, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
Must be able to successfully pass a CORI, SORI, reference, and employment verification check.
Commitment to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
Extensive knowledge of substance use, co-occurring and addiction treatment principles and techniques
Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered, and strengths-based values and modalities
Knowledge of evidenced-based practices for co-occurring disorder services, including motivational interviewing, motivational counseling, stage of change and harm reduction techniques as related to substance addiction services
Knowledge of available community, hospital-based, residential, day, and self-help services for co-occurring disorder treatment and support
Knowledge of health risks prevalent with adults with SMI/SUD
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive services
Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues
Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
Ability to triage/balance competing priorities
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team
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 remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed.
Ability to bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility.
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.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in human service-related discipline preferred.
Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) credentials preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Outreaches to and supports the client to make positive life changes and developing skills to achieve and maintain recovery. Serves as a model and provides peer counseling to develop pro-social behavior and self-advocacy skills; assists in developing skills needed to repair and maintain healthy relationships.
Works with treatment team to assess readiness for change and develop strategies to engage the client in the treatment process. Communicates progress toward goals to other members of the treatment team.
Assists client in navigating health care, mental health and SUD treatment, and social support systems.
Provides education regarding mental illness, addiction, and recovery, assist client in determining which level of care would best meet their needs.
Functions as an advocate and liaison in preparing and accompanying the client to meetings with, for example, probation officers, social workers, PCP’s, DCF or other state or local agencies.
Provides temporary assistance with transportation to referrals regarding connections to any community, self-help or social services that align with the client’s needs and goals.
Contributes expertise to treatment teams as related to mental health and SUD education, motivational enhancement, appropriate stage of change interventions, and application of evidenced-based mental health and substance addiction treatment.
Implements recovery-oriented, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent and strengths-based rehabilitation approaches.
Assists the client in any care transitions through collaboration with the community provider staff and hospital staff to ensure a safe discharge plan and a well-coordinated implementation of that plan.
Monitors and report on progress in client's electronic health record.
Performs other duties, as required.