Certified Peer Support Specialist (NOLA ACT)

About the role

The Peer Support Specialist will work with a multidisciplinary team to provide psychiatric treatment to people with a severe mental illness. The peer develops a meaningful connection with clients by drawing on their own experience living with mental illness and/or their own experience of homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Develops a meaningful connection with clients by drawing on their own experience living with mental illness and/or their own experience of homelessness.
• Communicates respectfully and effectively and establishes professional relationships through active listening and demonstration of empathy and positive regard.
• Promotes recovery, independence, and personal choice for participants.
• Affirms clients' strengths, needs, and realistic goals to develop a service plan.
• Demonstrates basic knowledge of behavioral health symptoms, interventions, and impact.
• Models recovery-oriented thinking and behavior.
• Maintains professional boundaries and operates within agency / ethical guidelines.
• Works as a member of a multidisciplinary team providing intensive services to people with severe and persistent behavioral health disorders.
• Affirm peers in skill building, goal setting, problem solving, and conducting Recovery Dialogues.
• Helps peers build self-directed recovery tools which includes, supporting peers in developing a Recovery Action Plan that has their recovery goals and specific steps to obtain to reach those goals.
• Teaches social skills and household management skills.
• Accurately identifies risk and responds appropriately.
• Adheres to the Certified Peer Support Specialists Code of Ethics.
• Complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and keeps all information confidential.
• Provides supportive services for clients and arranges for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan.
• Completes case plans with clients.
• Interviews clients, families, etc., and completes assessments and other clinical documentation.
• Completes case logs on all client services and ensures that logs are entered into the electronic data management system of the program they are employed by.
• Participates in regular case maintenance activities including documenting actions, making narrative entries, preparing necessary reports and/or social summaries, etc.
• Consults with facility personnel and administrative field personnel; collects and analyzes data to identify needs for the assigned special services program within the particular service area.
• Maintains a clear driving record in order to be able to drive company vehicles to provide transportation to clients.
• Participates in monthly support meetings with the ACT team and attends monthly meetings for all Certified Peer Support Specialists.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum of two years of behavioral health experience
• Certification as a Peer Support Specialist
• Be over 18 years of age
• Personal experience of being homeless (preferred)
• No restrictions or adverse actions that would disqualify for Medicaid or other billing
• Possess a valid driver’s license

Skills

• Active listening
• Empathy
• Positive regard
• Recovery-oriented thinking and behavior
• Professional boundaries
• Agency / ethical guidelines

Benefits

• Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• 13 paid holidays per year for regular full time staff
• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching