Peer Support Specialist

MONARCH•Winston-Salem, NC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

At Monarch, Peer Support Specialists are responsible for supporting individuals in achieving personal goals, enhancing natural supports, and developing coping and self-management skills. This role leverages personal experience with mental health or substance abuse issues to assist others in achieving desired outcomes. Monarch is dedicated to providing life-changing care across North Carolina and Rhode Island, offering hope, promoting wellness, and empowering individuals and families impacted by mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury. The organization fosters a positive and encouraging work environment, supporting team members' growth and professional development, with a commitment to promoting from within. Monarch offers a comprehensive, competitive benefits package for full-time and part-time team members. Since 1958, Monarch has focused on helping others and improving lives, providing services that help people thrive and making a daily impact on individuals achieving their dreams and finding support. Monarch is nationally accredited by The Joint Commission and committed to providing the highest quality health care.

Requirements

High School Diploma
Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) - State Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (USA)
Drivers License (Valid) - USA
Experience working with adults with a mental health diagnosis and/or substance use disorder | 1 Year
Lived experience and a personal recovery story related to mental illness or substance use.

Responsibilities

Provide supportive services to assist an individual in community re-entry following hospitalizations by developing relationships in their community and with their natural supports.
Emphasize personal safety, self worth, confidence, growth, connection to the community, boundary setting, planning, self advocacy, personal fulfillment, development of social supports, the helper principle, and effective communication skills.
Assist individuals in making informed choices with regard to their care and services and other life decisions affecting their illness.
Assist in the development of comprehensive crisis plans and work with people receiving services to effectively use their crisis plans.
Assist with self help, advocacy, pre-crisis support, and facilitating an individual with speaking with their employer regarding reasonable accommodations for psychiatric disability.
Assist the Community Support Professional in conjunction with the individuals supported in developing goals and areas of need, and assist in developing person-centered plans.
Communicate needs and progress of the person supported to supervisor and/or Community Support Professionals/other professionals as requested.
Engage in various skill-building activities such as learning how to maintain stable housing, bill paying, cleaning, organizing belongings, building social skills, locating improved housing situations, teaching the individual to identify and prepare healthy foods according to cultural and personal preferences of the individual served and his/her medical needs.
Documental encounters and contacts made on behalf of people we support; complete and submit billing documentation as appropriate; maintain comprehensive files.
Maintain positive working relationships within the communities served, including individuals, families, staff, monitoring and licensing agencies, organizations, and funders.
Drive and travel extensively to community locations, various agencies, and other outreach destinations. Provide and/or arrange for transportation for people receiving support as required.
Provide support as needed to meet the emotional, physical, and medical needs of each person supported.
Facilitate person-centered, effective, positive relationships with people receiving services using positive approaches that promote self determination in all areas of life.
Attend regular staff meetings and other required meetings. Convey observations and key issues to supervisor on an on-going basis. Maintain all required training by attending and actively participating in meetings and all required trainings. Maintain certification in all agency, state and federal training requirements.
Assist new staff and/or current staff with orientation, mentoring, and training.
Demonstrate knowledge of and comply with all agency policies and procedures.
Follow service definition guidelines for services being provided.
Complete all other relevant responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.