Peer Support Specialist - Crisis Diversion Center

CONCHO VALLEY CENTER FOR HUMAN ADVANCEMENT•San Angelo, TX

10d•Onsite

About The Position

At MHMR Concho Valley, our mission is “Working together to help people help themselves.” If you are serious about making a difference, we guarantee you’ll love being a part of the MHMR Concho Valley. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Under the supervision of the Director of Crisis Diversion Services, the Peer Support Specialist uses their lived experience in mental health recovery to assist other adults in their mental health recovery. Performs direct rehabilitative services that engage clients in activities designed to reduce the symptoms of and disabilities that result from their diagnosed mental illness and to increase the ability of the individual to function at their expected level within the community. Performs symptom management services to assist clients with the identification and management of the symptoms of mental illness. Crisis follow up services, relapse and prevention, screening and referrals to community resources and providers. To those residing at the Diversion Center or at Crisis Respite, the Peer Support Specialist assists in providing individual skills training and/or psychosocial rehabilitation in addition to the completing intake protocols, development of treatment plans and discharge planning in an environment that is designed to provide a safe and secure environment for short-term stabilization of behavioral health symptoms. This position partners successfully with law enforcement, the medical community, schools, families, and social services agencies in a collaborative effort to assist persons in crisis and find placement as needed. The Peer Support Specialist will have an ongoing caseload for up to 90 days of those diverted. The ideal candidate possesses strong knowledge of the principles, methods, techniques, and practices of working with individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis within the community and the voluntary respite unit and have the ability to communicate effectively with diverse cultures and socio-economic populations. The role uses skills and experience in working with integrated computer database programs to access files and document treatment services and the ability to organize and prioritize work assignments. This position includes a flexible workday and is the best fit for a person able to work both independently and collaboratively. This position supports other crisis programs, including Crisis Respite Unit, as needed. EDUCATION, TRAINING, & EXPERIENCE Minimum Qualifications: Lived experience with recovery from mental health challenges, High School Diploma or equivalent, Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License. Must be willing to become a certified peer specialist within 6 months of hiring. Prefer one-year experience in like or similar position, either public or private. Experience in mental health and/or criminal justice and knowledge about community resources and social services is preferred. Preferred - Clinical and administrative experience working with individuals with a mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorder in an emergency setting; bilingual (English/Spanish). KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Consistently upbeat and energetic attitude, ability to maintain focus in a dynamic environment with many interruptions and distractions, self-starter, creative thinker, encouraging demeanor, maintain a high level of energy for up to 8 hours, manage competing demands on time, keep space and tasks well organized, analyze tasks and spaces for barriers to utilization and develop interventions to address them, remain relaxed and nonreactive when others are upset, stand and move for long periods, stay alert, energetic, and positive for long periods, engage with small and large groups, utilize and be responsible for a company credit card, use standard office equipment, use standard kitchen equipment. REQUIREMENTS Valid Texas Driver License required. Must not have more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years. Must be insurable on the Center’s insurance. Must be able to pass a background check. Must be able to complete all MHMR Concho Valley training. SHIFT HOURS Rotating Shifts / As needed / Evenings, Weekends, Overnights

Requirements

Lived experience with recovery from mental health challenges
High School Diploma or equivalent
Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License
Must be willing to become a certified peer specialist within 6 months of hiring
Valid Texas Driver License required
Must not have more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years
Must be insurable on the Center’s insurance
Must be able to pass a background check
Must be able to complete all MHMR Concho Valley training

Nice To Haves

Prefer one-year experience in like or similar position, either public or private
Experience in mental health and/or criminal justice and knowledge about community resources and social services is preferred
Clinical and administrative experience working with individuals with a mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorder in an emergency setting
bilingual (English/Spanish)
Consistently upbeat and energetic attitude
ability to maintain focus in a dynamic environment with many interruptions and distractions
self-starter
creative thinker
encouraging demeanor
maintain a high level of energy for up to 8 hours
manage competing demands on time
keep space and tasks well organized
analyze tasks and spaces for barriers to utilization and develop interventions to address them
remain relaxed and nonreactive when others are upset
stand and move for long periods
stay alert, energetic, and positive for long periods
engage with small and large groups
utilize and be responsible for a company credit card
use standard office equipment
use standard kitchen equipment

Responsibilities

assist other adults in their mental health recovery
perform direct rehabilitative services that engage clients in activities designed to reduce the symptoms of and disabilities that result from their diagnosed mental illness and to increase the ability of the individual to function at their expected level within the community
perform symptom management services to assist clients with the identification and management of the symptoms of mental illness
crisis follow up services, relapse and prevention, screening and referrals to community resources and providers
assists in providing individual skills training and/or psychosocial rehabilitation in addition to the completing intake protocols, development of treatment plans and discharge planning in an environment that is designed to provide a safe and secure environment for short-term stabilization of behavioral health symptoms
partners successfully with law enforcement, the medical community, schools, families, and social services agencies in a collaborative effort to assist persons in crisis and find placement as needed
ongoing caseload for up to 90 days of those diverted
supports other crisis programs, including Crisis Respite Unit, as needed