Independence Center - Peer Support Specialist

Independence Center (IC) is an internationally recognized, community-based behavioral health organization for adults in St Louis living with a mental illness. Our mission is to provide all the services and resources a person living with a serious and persistent mental illness needs, to manage their symptoms, find belonging and purpose, and gain the independence to live a healthy, quality life. Since 1981, IC has offered a comprehensive system of programs and services including housing, case management, psychiatric care, employment and vocational support, wellness, and social opportunities. Our programs create a restorative environment that includes the support of others who are in recovery and access to targeted resources that equip them to initiate and sustain the healthy behaviors necessary to live and work independently in the community.

About the role

If, like us, you believe that every person has the right to a meaningful, caring, and challenging community, then we have a career for you at Independence Center.

Responsibilities

• Use lived experiences to help engage with clients by supporting them through the intake and enrollment process.
• Work in partnership with our Housing Liaison to help with clients who are unhoused.
• Start and sustain mutual support groups.
• Promote dialogues on recovery and resilience.
• Teach and model symptom management skills.
• Teach and model problem-solving skills.

Focus of duties by service area

• Rehab (CTT) Teams – Help individuals identify what will help improve their quality of life and then identify goals and barriers to achieving a better quality of life. As a member of the treatment team, peer support specialists have identified interventions on the treatment plan as other team members do.
• Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT) – Focus is on recovery from both mental illness and substance use. Peer Support Specialist should have had experience with addictions, either personal or family and be familiar with ways to maintain sobriety.
• Transitional Age Youth – Activities are focused on skills young adults (16 to 25) need to be independent in the community, with special attention to those skills that will impact young adults most if not attended to. Must have had similar experiences and be close enough in age to be able to engage young adults.
• Homeless – Activities are focused on acquiring and maintaining safe affordable housing. Must have experienced homelessness at some point in life and have been successfully housed for the last two years.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED

Qualifications

• Certified Missouri Peer Specialist
• Valid Driver’s License
• Must have own vehicle to transport clients

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and legal services available first day of the month after hire date
• Disability insurance paid for by BJC
• Annual 4% BJC Automatic Retirement Contribution
• 401(k) plan with BJC match
• Tuition Assistance available on first day
• BJC Institute for Learning and Development
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time Off benefit combines vacation, sick days, holidays and personal time
• Adoption assistance