Peer Support Specialist (4719-39)

Hamilton County Government • Cincinnati, OH

33d • $23 • Onsite

About The Position

Provides peer counseling and support by drawing on common experiences as a peer to validate clients’ experiences and provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery;
Serves as a mentor to clients to promote hope and empowerment for themselves;
Advocates to their entire team from a mental health consumer perspective concerning clients’ experiences regarding symptoms of mental illness, clients’ attitudes and opinions of treatment and experiences of recovery;
Suggests appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in clients’ mental status or behaviors that put clients at risk;
Provides work-related supportive services such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, transportation, etc.;
Provides side-by-side services, skills teaching, support and environment adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs). The ADLs may include such things as cleaning, laundry, transportation, grocery shopping an assistance with personal hygiene and grooming tasks;
Provides side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to clients to socialize.
This includes planning leisure time activities on weekends, evenings and holidays.
Be aware of personal mental health needs and model a healthy lifestyle;
Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to all information obtained and processed in the operation of the River City Correctional Center;
Supports, cooperates and works with other facility staff in meeting the needs of the program;
Transports residents to community resources as needed.

Note: This job description shall in no way be construed as a limitation on the authority of supervisory personnel to assign tasks which are not listed in the job duties section to employees under their direct or indirect supervision.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• one year’ experience working in the mental health field and/or in a correctional facility is highly desirable for this position preferred
• Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (CBHPSS) designation
• Possession of a valid Ohio Operator’s License
• Ability to recognize unusual and/or threatening conditions and take appropriate action.
• Ability to maintain records and prepare routine reports.
• Ability to work under stressful and demanding conditions.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Ability to effectively manage time and organize workload.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, community, etc.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to plan, organize, train and direct the work of residents in the completion of their assigned housekeeping duties.
• Visual ability sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including calculator, copier facsimile machine and computer.
• Ability to remain calm in tense situations.
• Ability to read and prepare reports with recommendations, correspondence, instructions, policies and procedures.
• Hearing ability sufficient to hold conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone and to hear recordings on a dictaphone.
• Speaking ability sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
• Visual ability to read and prepare reports.
• Significant amount of standing, walking, sitting, listening, and reaching with arms and hands.
• Must have the ability to recognize the signs or symptoms of current substance abuse.
• Physical ability to intervene in crisis situations.
• Conveys and receives information in person and over the telephone.

Responsibilities

• Provides peer counseling and support by drawing on common experiences as a peer to validate clients’ experiences and provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery
• Serves as a mentor to clients to promote hope and empowerment for themselves
• Advocates to their entire team from a mental health consumer perspective concerning clients’ experiences regarding symptoms of mental illness, clients’ attitudes and opinions of treatment and experiences of recovery
• Suggests appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in clients’ mental status or behaviors that put clients at risk
• Provides work-related supportive services such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, transportation, etc.
• Provides side-by-side services, skills teaching, support and environment adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs). The ADLs may include such things as cleaning, laundry, transportation, grocery shopping an assistance with personal hygiene and grooming tasks
• Provides side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to clients to socialize. This includes planning leisure time activities on weekends, evenings and holidays.
• Be aware of personal mental health needs and model a healthy lifestyle
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to all information obtained and processed in the operation of the River City Correctional Center
• Supports, cooperates and works with other facility staff in meeting the needs of the program
• Transports residents to community resources as needed

Benefits

• Medical insurance coverage through United Health Care, dental, vision, vacation, sick leave,15 observed paid holidays, employer paid life insurance, and Ohio Public Employees Retirement (OPERS) where employees contribute 10% of their pay on a pre-tax basis and the employer contributes 14%

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees