Peer Navigator

About the role

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is seeking a Peer Navigator to join our team. The role involves engaging in face-to-face contact with peers to help assess their needs, provide peer support, education, and facilitate referrals to social services. This position requires participation as a member of the interdisciplinary team, maintaining open communication with medical director, program/unit director, and other professional staff. The Peer Navigator also provides information on community and Agency resources, encourages peers to attend consumer meetings/support groups, and supports their efforts to develop empowerment skills through self-advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Engages in face-to-face contact with peers to help assess their needs, provide peer support, education, and help facilitate referrals to social services.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Maintains open communication with medical director, program/unit director, and other professional staff.
• Provides peers and their families with information on community and Agency resources.
• Responsible for accurate and timely collection, entry, and maintenance of required program data.
• Encourages peers to attend consumer meetings/support groups and supports their efforts to develop empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Demonstrates respect and cultural sensitivity to peers, family members, visitors, and fellow employees.
• Demonstrates strong customer-service oriented behaviors. Treats everyone in a polite, professional manner. Handles concerns, problems, and issues in a manner that is helpful and responsive.
• Advocates for peers to ensure that needs are met both within the Agency and the community.
• Demonstrates flexibility to meet the on-going needs of the Agency.
• Performs other duties as assigned and adapts to changing work requirements.
• Complies with Agency policies and procedures, and demonstrates professional, ethical, and confidential conduct in all work behavior.

Qualifications

• Must have High School Diploma or GED.
• Must be a Certified Peer Specialist / have equivalent certification or must take the Certified Peer Specialist training within 8 months of hiring.
• Experience: 0-2 years for level 1, 3-5 years for level 2, 6-8 years for level 3, 9+ years for level 4.
• Must self-identify as a user of Mental Health Services with no crisis services utilized within a year, and no hospitalization within a year. May consider one stay within a year if it was a short duration.
• Background check is required.
• Prefer past experience of being in a mental health crisis.
• Prefer experience of some homelessness.

Other Key Qualifications

• Basic understanding of mental illness, common signs and symptoms, and the ability to identify difficulties coping in community settings.
• Familiarity with navigating the Mental Health System.
• Bi-lingual is a strong plus.
• Computer literate.
• Group affiliations a strong plus; i.e., NAMI, DBSA, AA, NA, etc.
• Strong communication, listening, and positive interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others in a teamwork environment.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to coordinate well with others.
• Self-directed.

What We Have To Offer

• A competitive salary.
• A suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally.
• A robust retirement plan with company matching.
• A generous Paid Time Off accrual.
• Cell Phone Discounts.
• Exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work.
• A free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.
• An Employee Assistance Program supporting your overall well-being.
• Significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million. The center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County, and services are provided in more than 40 different languages and sign language to better serve the diverse community. By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.