Peer Support Specialist

The Wellspring • Monroe, LA

32d

About The Position

Provides peer support services to Veterans and their families by using lived experience and recovery-oriented practices to offer encouragement, support engagement in services, assist with navigating community resources, promote self-advocacy, support client safety, healing, and overall well-being in alignment with agency standards and ethical guidelines.

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran; combat experience preferred
• Flexibility to work non-traditional business hours
• Knowledge of Community Resources
• Verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to record with clarity and promptness
• Good listening skills and the ability to ask appropriate questions
• Ability to maintain poise, control and effectiveness in providing services to clients even under extreme stress and unexpected crises
• Appropriately assertive even in difficult situations
• Must demonstrate mature and objective, non-judgmental behaviors
• Ability to assess situations both within and outside the client system and determine priorities
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with clients from various cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds
• Maintains positive work relationships with other staff, is cooperative and promotes teamwork
• Effectiveness in planning and arranging work responsibilities including handling deadlines and changes in priorities
• Ability to identify and use community resources
• Maintains personal appearance consistent with agency image
• Assumes responsibility for own learning
• Handles delicate situations tactfully
• Ability to work within the purpose, structure and constraints of the Agency and to make suggestions for change in a responsible manner
• Must maintain strict client confidentiality
• Commitment to professional growth

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in psychology, social work, etc.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support services to Veterans and their families by Providing individual peer support, encouragement, and recovery-oriented guidance to Veterans and/or their families
• Facilitating or co-facilitating Veteran and Veteran family peer support groups as assigned
• Connecting clients with community resources and assisting them with accessing needed services and supports
• Encouraging client engagement, self-advocacy, goal setting, and follow-through with recommended services
• Sharing lived experience appropriately to build trust, promote hope, and support recovery and stability
• Maintain accurate and complete records for each client by Ensuring that all necessary paperwork is completed accurately and signed where appropriate
• Completing service notes and required reports for each client contact or session
• Documenting all contacts with or activities on behalf of each client, including individual sessions, group sessions, cancellations and no-shows, advocacy, referrals, and phone contacts
• Support coordinated client care and positive working relationships by Collaborating with supervisors, coworkers, and community partners to support coordinated services for clients
• Communicating client needs, concerns, and progress in a timely and professional manner
• Participating in team meetings, case staffing, and service planning as assigned
• Supporting a respectful, recovery-oriented environment for clients and staff
• Assure quality services and program compliance by Following agency policies, program procedures, and applicable standards for service delivery
• Completing assigned tasks, documentation, and follow-up activities accurately and within required timeframes
• Participating in quality improvement efforts and implementing feedback to strengthen services
• Maintains client confidence and agency integrity by Keeping information confidential
• Adhering to agency policies, professional boundaries, and all applicable ethical and confidentiality standards
• Assures quality services and program efficiency and effectiveness by Complying with appropriate program standards and guidelines
• Completing required agency and funder paperwork in a timely and accurate manner
• Maintains effective agency operations by Complying with agency procedures, rules and regulations
• Maintains safety of clients and staff at all times by Assessing lethality of individual client situations
• Developing and reviewing safety plans with clients
• Coordinating and cooperating with law enforcement or other authorities as needed
• Contributes to team efforts by Communicating effectively
• Exhibiting a willingness to help other staff
• Demonstrating flexibility and accommodating change
• Encouraging and supporting others
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Maintains professional competency by Participating regularly in supervision, consultation, and required staff meetings
• Participating in continued education and personal growth experiences
• Reviewing professional publications
• Performs other duties as related to the position and assigned.
• Work non-traditional hours and/or alternate schedule during special projects or to meet agency deadlines.

Benefits

• Orientation
• On-going in-service training
• Forty hours annually of continuing education in service area
• Initial and ongoing training in the areas of Veterans and their families

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree