Lead Peer Specialist

About the role

The ACCS Lead Peer Specialist promotes the engagement, hope and the full integration and functioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live successfully in the community. Welcomes, orients and engages PS into service, collaborates with LPHA to determine needed services. Helps PS explore their options and gain the confidence, skills, and resources needed to succeed in goals. Directly supervises the Team’s Peer Specialists.

Responsibilities

• Joins with Team LPHA Clinicians to initiate and conduct intake process for all referred PS within 72 hours.
• Focuses on welcoming, orienting and engaging PS to support their understanding of services and support available.
• Buils a trusting relationship to promote the PS interest and active involvement in ACCS.
• Works with PS on readiness for goal setting using established protocols.
• Shares personal experiences; provide support, education and advocacy to PS; especially at times of service and life transitions; for example being discharged from a hospital, detoxification unit or respite setting, moving to their own apartment, or when facing life stage challenges –particularly for young adults and elders.
• Introduces and provides “warm hand off” for PS to other Team Peer Specialists for future work together.
• Maintains close contact with PS who struggle with initial or sustained engagement in ACCS.
• Engages PS in non-directive and supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self learning.
• Promotes healthcare and employment services access for PS.
• Promotes engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and successful completion of service for all PS.
• Helps maximize choices available to PS as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery and evaluation of their treatment, care coordination, and support services.
• Facilitates Peer Support groups.
• Connect PS with both psychiatric conditions and substance use/addiction to recovery tools and resources.
• Implements Peer Support-oriented Treatment Plan interventions with PS.
• Completes documentation only in accordance with Certified Peer Specialist training standards.
• Helps PS develop self-advocacy skills, individually or in groups.
• Provides information and training on recovery and self-management plans and strategies – including, facilitating the PS completion of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) individually or in a group.
• Assists PS in linking to other community services and build Recovery and support networks outside the service system – both actual and electronic, including services and networks for people with co-occurring disorders for mutual help and Recovery support groups.
• Provides on-going problem solving, skill training, and side-by-side support to help PS improve their daily living skills and abilities.
• Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies for PS.
• Teaches, consults and collaborates with Team members to ensure recovery values, language, and culture are promoted and upheld.
• On-boards, orients and coaches new Team Peer Specialists by using shadowing of experienced Peer Specialists, reviewing the application of Certified Peer Specialist and other applicable Codes of Ethics to the Team’s work, etc.
• Uses and models for other ACCS staff recovery-oriented, person-centered, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change; trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches to help PS think through their current life circumstances compared to their hopes and plans for the future.
• Performs, trains, supervises, mentors, and models evidenced-based recovery-oriented interventions for PS, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Housing First; Stages of Change and Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP).
• Supervises Peer Specialists.
• Provide training, guidance and consultation to Team Peer Specialists to maintain integrity to the Peer role and adherence to Certified Peer Specialist and other applicable Codes of Ethics.
• Helps Peer Specialists problem solve potential ethical conflicts, support their voice of Recovery in Team interactions, and mentor each on how to be effective in their work as a Peer Specialist.
• Communicates frequently with Team Leader and meets with TL regularly to review performance and resolve any Peer Specialist performance issues.
• Visits all GLEs and SIE settings regularly to provide Peer Support.
• Facilitates Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups.

Qualifications

• One to three years’ experience providing peer support to people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders required.
• Personal, first-hand experience (not just having a friend or family member) being a recipient of the mental health system, which encompasses experiences such as psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services/therapy, experience with psychiatric medications, and/or participating in mental health groups in the community.
• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Must become a Certified Peer Specialist OR obtain Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery “Recovery Coach Academy” certificate of completion within 6 months of hire.

Pay

USD $52,620.00 - USD $52,620.00 /Yr.