MHUC: Peer Support Staff

Pathways Vermont • Burlington, VT

5h • $21 • Onsite

About The Position

Be part of this new collaboration in Chittenden County! The new Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC), like traditional physical health urgent care, fills the gap between emergency care and primary care. MHUC will offer adults over 18 years of age mental health support services, peer support, care management, and medical assessment/care in a trauma-informed setting, as a therapeutic alternative to emergency department care. These services are provided through a joint partnership with the HowardCenter, Community Health Center, University of Vermont, and Pathways Vermont.
The MHUC Peer Support Staff will be supervised and hired by Pathways Vermont. The MHUC Peer Support Staff will use their lived experience of trauma, mental health or substance use challenges, in combination with specialized training, to build genuine and mutual relationships with guests. MHUC Peer Support Staff will support individuals to live self-directed lives of their own choosing. The MHUC Peer Support Staff will not coerce or pressure people they support to participate in any service, including peer support.

Requirements

• Lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, homelessness and/or other life challenges, and willingness to share when appropriate
• Commitment to providing quality peer support; experience with providing peer support preferred
• Ability to share one’s own personal transformative life experiences
• Value harm/risk reduction as a philosophy and practice
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to form relationships form relationships with people who've experienced various types of marginalization, oppression, and injustice
• Sound judgment and good problem-solving skills, including assessing risk factors
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to self-reflect, learn, and practice new ways of being in relationships
• Risk and discomfort tolerance

Responsibilities

• Provide confidential and non-judgmental peer support services to guests at the MHUC
• Engage in relationship building/rapport building with guests and provide service utilizing choice-based, client-centered, harm reduction, and strengths-based approaches
• Support MHUC guests at the MHUC and co-create, organize, and structure the peer space
• Offer to attend meetings with MHUC guests with HowardCenter and/or Community Health Center staff and serve as a peer advocate in those meetings
• Maintain thorough understanding of MHUC policies and procedures, including emergency protocol
• Maintain written and computerized records, compile reports and complete other program documentation as needed
• Facilitate referrals to community services and activities
• Attendance at mandatory meetings and trainings is an expectation of employment with Pathways Vermont, unless excused by the employee’s manager/HR.
• Other Duties as assigned

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Long Term Disability/Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)
• 9 Paid Holidays Annually
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Longevity Recognition Rewards
• Access to a wide variety of Pathways facilitated trainings including Intentional Peer Support

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed