Peer Support Specialist (Community-Based) - Full Time

LifeWorks Austin•Austin, TX

22d•Onsite

About The Position

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for a full-time Peer Support Specialist to join their community-based Peer Services team. A Peer Support Specialist utilizes their lived experience and training to provide support services and education to individuals via group facilitation, individual mentorship, community collaboration, and the provision of alternative activities. The Peer Support Specialist utilizes a trauma-informed, strength-based model of support to foster and promote recovery and wellness with each client served. This is a full-time, non-exempt position.

Requirements

Requires a GED or HS Diploma and 2 years of related individual and group peer support experience.
Requires obtaining state certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (PSS).
Requires lived experience with 1) trauma and 2) substance use or mental health challenges. Record of maintaining own recovery over the past 2-year period.
Experience with databases; proficient level experience with Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

Provide client-centered, healing-centered peer support services to diverse individuals who may have experienced chronic homelessness, systems involvement, mental health challenges, substance use challenges, a history of trauma, etc.
Promote recovery, resiliency, and accountability to help others initiate or achieve long-term recovery to enhance quality of life, health, and wellness.
Meet with individual clients, as needed, to establish a safe, healthy relationship for learning, problem-solving, and participating in community activities; assists clients in building a network of support; makes referrals and coordinates client services, as appropriate.
Facilitate regular support groups and social activities, on site and/or within the community, through the implementation of program curricula, experiential activities, presentations and discussions, field trips and/or skill-based activities.
Participation in outreach opportunities to effectively engage with individuals who may be unfamiliar with LifeWorks services and supports.
Plan, develop, and provide recovery-related presentations and outreach on a variety of topics, such as harm reduction, substance use and disease prevention/intervention, health/mental health promotion, trauma and recovery, community resources, relationship-building, and coping strategies.
Advocate for clients within the community as well as internally to ensure that client needs are being recognized, represented, and addressed.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and community contacts such as referral sources, recovery community organizations, peer-run programs in non-recovery organizations, and other service providers.
Maintain up-to-date online documentation of client services and contacts by frequently entering into agency database. Document client progress toward recovery goals.
Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency. These requirements may pertain to data, paperwork, philosophies, processes, and procedures, among other things.
Additional duties as they relate to recovery support, including but not limited to, transporting clients in personal vehicles, resource navigation, and instrumental support.
Maintain approved non-clinical supervision and continuing education.
Use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to assist clients in mental or emotional crisis.