Peer Support Specialist
About The Position
VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), a leader in correctional healthcare, is seeking a full-time Peer Support Specialist (PSS) at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, DE. The company is fueled by passion, not profit, and is committed to providing quality services in a positive work environment based on respect and appreciation. The PSS is an active member of the Behavioral Health Acute and Residential Program, providing peer support services to clients with serious behavioral illnesses. This role involves functioning as a role model, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and coping skills, and serving as a consumer advocate. The PSS will provide consumer information and peer support for clients in both outpatient and inpatient settings, assisting individuals in regaining independence and mastery over their own recovery process, utilizing various recovery resources.
Requirements
- Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized Behavioral Health processes.
- Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
- Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of behavioral illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
- Knowledge and skills sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe behavioral illness.
- Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from Behavioral Health consumers on their strengths and interests.
- Peer Support Certification required (CPRS)
Responsibilities
- Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one-to-one and group sessions.
- Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, support, and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
- Assist clients in working with their Qualified Behavioral Health Professional and treatment team in determining the steps they need to take in order to achieve their goals and self-directed recovery.
- Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
- With assistance from the treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems.
- Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.
- Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques, the PSS provides opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
Benefits
- Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Health Savings Account
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Short Term/Long Term Disability
- Identity Theft Protection
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
- 401K & Plan Matching
- PTO
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
