Peer Support Specialist

Colorado Village Collaborative•Denver, CO

71d•$25

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist will provide assistance, support, and advocacy for program clients, identifying life choices and helping them overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. Focusing on the clients’ strengths, the Peer Support Specialist will promote personal growth, development, and recovery. Using their lived experience, the Peer Support Specialist will support clients with the transition from homelessness to being housed. This position reports to the Peer Support Manager. Schedule / Hours: 40 hrs/week, flexible with some nights and weekends may be needed Additional time will be spent in organizational meetings, meeting with external partners and coalitions, meeting with residents, etc.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent.
Prior or current recipient of mental health, substance and/or homeless services, with the ability to role model recovery, and who is actively participating in their own recovery. Two (2) years or more in recovery is preferred. All pathways are honored.
One year or more of volunteer and/or paid experience is preferred.
Peer Support Specialist training can be provided along with State of Colorado Credential.
At least one year of being successfully housed is mandatory
Experience in operating computerized office equipment and telephones.
Travel between sites is needed, reliable transportation is preferred.
Cell phone to download and access CVC applications is required
Cultural competence
Time management with the ability to meet a timeline
Excellent written and verbal communication
Administrative Skills
Conflict Mediation/Resolution Skills
Ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and experience
Trauma-Informed approach
Creativity and flexibility
Resilience and thick skin

Nice To Haves

Familiar with Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP) facilitation is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Provides individual peer support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
Helps clients identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental health, substance misuse and homelessness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness, and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
Appropriately responds to crises as they arise in a trauma-informed manner.
Solicits, listens and responds to client feedback about services.
Assist chronically homeless individuals in transition into and maintain supportive housing up to one-year post move.
Provides information and assists clients in skill-building activities, including Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP), goal setting, and problem-solving.
Facilitates connections to substance misuse programs and to on-site/telehealth mental health resources.
Works to create a supportive working environment that encourages trauma-informed and culturally competent interactions that build collaboration and create a kind and respectful atmosphere.
Provides group peer support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences, and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
Engages clients in participating in the weekly neighborhood cleanups.
Maintains and ensures the confidentiality of all client information.
Completes all necessary documentation including HMIS in a timely manner.
Completes all required forms and reports in a complete and timely manner.
Understands and follows the related policies and procedures of the operations.
Attends required meetings and regular supervision, focusing on mastering the core competencies of the Peer Support Specialist profession.
Attends and participates in formal and informal staff meetings and addresses client and program issues.
Provides excellent internal and external customer service and communicates in a professional, timely, and effective manner.
Actively participates, collaborates, and contributes to the multidisciplinary team to promote a team culture in which each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in service planning are maximized and supported.
Complete other special duties and tasks as assigned by management.