Peer Specialist, AOT

AltaPointe Health•Mobile, AL

About The Position

The Peer Specialist supports individuals in the AOT Program by promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction. The role helps individuals identify strengths, set wellness goals and objectives, address barriers, and make informed decisions about treatment, housing, healthcare, employment, and community connections. The specialist uses personal experience with mental health services to model recovery and stability, and helps participants build self-management, social, transportation, financial wellness, and other skills. The position works alongside individuals and treatment teams, connects participants with services and community support groups, and provides outreach when individuals appear to disengage from the AOT Program. It also supports clinicians’ understanding of peer support and self-advocacy, maintains confidential records and timely service documentation, and participates in supervision, performance improvement, committees, training, and other assigned administrative duties.

Requirements

Be a current or former recipient of mental health services for at least one year and have a significant mental health disorder as defined by the DSM-V.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to obtain Peer Specialist Certification through the State of Alabama Department of Mental Health.
At least 23 years of age.
Valid Alabama driver license, acceptable driving record, and proof of current liability insurance.
Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population.
Knowledge of cultural diversity.
Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, and non-violent crisis intervention practices.
Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles and available community resources.
Knowledge of educational methods appropriate for adults with psychiatric disorders and basic living-skills teaching methods.
Ability to work effectively as a team player.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing support services.
Knowledge of diagnoses.

Responsibilities

Promote self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assist individuals in identifying strengths, setting wellness goals and objectives, and identifying barriers.
Attend treatment team meetings with individuals and support self-directed advocacy, goal planning, and appropriate interventions.
Help individuals learn how to request appropriate services in the community.
Assist individuals in obtaining information about benefits, including SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid.
Engage individuals in programs and services that encourage treatment compliance and healthy lifestyles.
Model self-advocacy skills and share personal experience to demonstrate ways to maintain mental and physical stability.
Teach wellness management strategies and help individuals develop personal self-management plans and tools.
Connect individuals with community support groups to encourage hope, problem-solving, learning from peers, and reduced social isolation.
Educate clinicians about self-advocacy and peer support, and promote respect for individuals’ views and preferences in service delivery.
Provide resources and teach transportation skills, including how to use bus routes.
Support informed decisions about treatment, housing, healthcare, employment, and community connections.
Build social skills in the community and help individuals overcome barriers to maintaining stability there.
Assist with obtaining required program documentation and completing applications and paperwork for benefits and housing.
Explore individuals’ aspirations and teach skills needed to achieve treatment goals.
Attend recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings with participants when appropriate.
Support financial wellness through money-management and asset-development tools.
Provide outreach when individuals appear to disengage from the AOT Program.
Seek supervision and consultation as needed and accept and apply suggestions for improvement.
Maintain confidential files and documentation for individuals receiving services, providing timely documentation that meets AltaPointe requirements.
Treat consumers with care, dignity, compassion, respect, and sensitivity to their needs and differences; protect their privacy and confidentiality.
Be pleasant and cooperative with others, assist consumers and visitors as needed, and remain calm and gentle with consumers and families.
Participate in Performance Improvement activities and AltaPointe committees as required.
Complete assigned tasks promptly, follow AltaPointe policies and procedures, and attend required in-service training and workshops.