Peer Support Specialist - Certified

Volunteers Of America, Utah•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

Volunteers of America, Utah’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program uses a multidisciplinary “hospital without walls” model to provide intensive, integrated services in clients’ homes, workplaces, and other community settings. Team members provide services tailored to each client’s preferences and goals, emphasizing relationship building and active involvement to help clients improve functioning, manage symptoms, achieve individual goals, and maintain optimism. The Case Manager/Peer Support Specialist provides individualized supportive case management to clients with severe and persistent mental illness in an outpatient community setting. The role helps clients achieve or maintain stability and independence, access housing and other resources, and develop expertise in recovery and symptom management. The work schedule includes weekends, and the position provides on-call crisis intervention. Volunteers of America, Utah encourages people with lived experience to apply.

Requirements

Personal experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, with a level of recovery sufficient to manage the illness and function independently.
Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) certification in Utah.
GED or high school diploma.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheets.
Ability to build rapport with clients and engage them in case management.
Ability to collaborate with community resources.
Ability to maintain a calm demeanor while working with a potentially high-distress population.
Ability to climb stairs, enter client homes, and provide services in shelters, on the street, and in other settings.
Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be insurable under the agency liability policy.
Must pass Utah DHHS Office of Licensing background screening for work with vulnerable populations and maintain an “Eligible” determination through continuous background monitoring/Rap Back enrollment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder.

Responsibilities

Provide peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families, and team staff.
Assess service needs and coordinate access to necessary services.
Apply for, acquire, and maintain long-term benefits for clients.
Provide practical help and support, advocacy, coordination, individualized side-by-side support, problem solving, direct assistance, training, and supervision to help clients obtain necessities of daily living.
Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment-planning review meetings.
Complete documentation and meet minimum service-time requirements based on ACT requirements.
Visit clients in their homes.
Provide on-call crisis intervention.

Benefits

Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Health savings account.
403(b) retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
Employee Assistance Program for all employees.
33 paid days off to start: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days.
Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more after 5 and 9 years of service.
Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
$50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
$1,200 annual employer contribution to the Health Savings Account, paid quarterly.
Employee Referral Program with cash bonuses and paid time off.