Peer Support Specialist- SMI No Holidays or Weekends!

New Vista of the Bluegrass Inc•Lexington, KY

13d

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist position is an individual, or family member of an individual, who has been in receipt of services for mental health or substance use difficulties and is willing to share and use their experiences, knowledge, and first-hand insight to the benefit of the clients served. The Peer Support Specialist functions as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to achieve a desired social or personal change. The Peer Support Specialist collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes, understands, and respects each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences. The Specialist is responsible to maximize client choice, self-determination and decision making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment. The Peer Support Specialist serves as a role model; and promotes socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, and enhancement of community living skills for clients. The Peer Support Specialist is a positive team player that promotes a culture of inclusion and participation.

Requirements

High School Graduate or equivalent
Ability to demonstrate one year of recovery involvement
Currently certified in good standing as a Kentucky Peer Support Specialist or must complete a certification program approved by the state within three months of hire
Must have a history of mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis and treatment
Valid driver’s license, reliable operating transportation, proof of current auto insurance

Nice To Haves

One-year experience providing peer support services
In Residential Substance Use Peer Support positions, experience working with pregnant and postpartum women
In Substance Use and Residential Substance Use Peer Support positions, knowledge of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders

Responsibilities

Serve as an active member of the treatment team
Advocate for services requested by the individual
Assist in cultivating the individual’s ability to make informed, independent choices, to set goals/objectives and assist in gaining information and support from the community
Plan activities with the individual that lead to improved self-concepts through empowerment and self-determination opportunities
Act as a teacher and role model of behavioral health recovery and assist with the development of effective communication with other providers
Assist individuals in the development of Wellness Recovery Action Plans and/or Advance Directives for Mental Health Treatment to avoid hospitalization
Support individuals how to maintain stable housing and employment, if desired
Provide support and encouragement to the individual
Offer hope of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorders by sharing personal recovery story and by teaching individuals how to tell their own recovery stories effectively. Use unique recovery experience to model the value of every individual’s recovery experience and teach effective coping techniques and self-help strategies
With assistance from supervisor, document in the Person-Centered Recovery Plan the strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of the individual; interventions to assist peers in reaching their recovery goals; progress toward recovery goals
Travel to community partner sites to meet with individuals who are referred into various programs with the intent to obtain early engagement
Participate as an active member of the individual’s recovery team, including participation in team meetings and treatment planning opportunities to assist clients with the identification and attainment of their recovery goals
Act as a liaison between the individual and members of the recovery team
Inform the treatment team of any issues/concerns related to the individual clients
Increase awareness of, and support client participation in, consumer self-help programs such as Participation Station and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery
Maintain accurate, thorough documentation on all assigned cases and use documentation to assist clients in evaluating progress
Submit documentation within required timeframes
Ensures that the Drop-in Center has proper accommodations such as coffee, snacks, and a pleasant environment
Responds to Drop-in Center consumers by triaging their needs which may range from mental health or substance use crisis to no immediate needs and make referrals to appropriate services within New Vista, and if not available, to outside service providers
Works with SMI leadership to ensure coverage of the Drop-in Center during hours of operation
Operate as a member of the Mobile Crisis, Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Critical Evaluation Teams
Respond promptly to requests regarding any crisis events, assessments, consultation, or episodes of care in a variety of settings within the community (i.e. emergency room, polices station, individual’s home, etc.)
Work with state psychiatric hospital staff to facilitate telehealth evaluations, provide support to clients, and/or connecting clients to services as needed
Work with community partners (i.e. first responders, court system, hospital emergency rooms, etc.) and New Vista treatment team to assist in crisis response, stabilization, and/or connecting to follow up treatment
Track and provide data elements and other relevant information about client care as requested