Youth Peer Specialist

AltaPointe Health•Fairhope, AL

14d

About The Position

Children's Outpatient Services provides treatment for children and adolescents and their families and is intended to improve and maintain a child’s or an adolescent’s stability in the community. Treatment focuses on problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Services include individual, family and group therapy, medication evaluation and management, case management, in home intervention, case consultation and summer day treatment services. The type of treatment is highly variable and depends upon the individual’s existing symptoms and developmental level.

Requirements

High school diploma or its equivalent
Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services with a DSM-5 diagnosis, for no less that one year before the age of 21.
Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment
A valid driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation and verifiable vehicle liability insurance
Ability to attend DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification; demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system
Knowledge of youth/young adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment:
Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the youth/young adult population
Knowledge of cultural diversity
Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic participants, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices.
Knowledge of a recovery-oriented treatment approach
Ability to communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team
Ability to connect to youth/young adults and share skills and knowledge with others

Responsibilities

Participates in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectations
Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social and recreational skills and to help participants develop insight into their mental illness
Promotes recovery-oriented skills to help achieve goals created in the treatment plan
Establish linkages that result in the participant’s active use of resources in the community
Assist participants in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of participant when needed
Assists staff and participants in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
Serve as a role model to help staff in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
Plans and conducts peer support groups focusing on topics related to recovery
Other tasks as assigned by supervisor
Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
Documents legibly and in a clear and concise manner
Documents individualized participant responses to services provided
Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
Actively works to enhance skills
Attends and participates in staff meetings as required
Treats participants with care, dignity and compassion
Respects participant’s privacy and confidentiality
Is pleasant and cooperative with others
Assists participants and visitors as needed
Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
Is sensitive to the participant’s needs, expectations and individual differences
Is gentle and calm with participants and families
Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
Attends appropriate in-services training and other workshops