Peer Specialist (Behavioral Health)

About the role

Vinfen is a nonprofit organization providing community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Founded in 1977, Vinfen promotes recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination for the people they serve.

Responsibilities

• Outreaches to and supports the client to make positive life changes and developing skills to achieve and maintain recovery.
• Serves as a model and provides peer counseling to develop pro-social behavior and self-advocacy skills; assists in developing skills needed to repair and maintain healthy relationships.
• Works with treatment team to assess readiness for change and develop strategies to engage the client in the treatment process.
• Communicates progress toward goals to other members of the treatment team.
• Assists client in navigating health care, mental health and SUD treatment, and social support systems.
• Provides education regarding mental illness, addiction, and recovery, assist client in determining which level of care would best meet their needs.
• Functions as an advocate and liaison in preparing and accompanying the client to meetings with, for example, probation officers, social workers, PCP’s, DCF or other state or local agencies.
• Provides temporary assistance with transportation to referrals regarding connections to any community, self-help or social services that align with the client’s needs and goals.
• Contributes expertise to treatment teams as related to mental health and SUD education, motivational enhancement, appropriate stage of change interventions, and application of evidenced-based mental health and substance addiction treatment.
• Implements recovery-oriented, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent and strengths-based rehabilitation approaches.
• Aids in any care transitions through collaboration with the community provider staff and hospital staff to ensure a safe discharge plan and a well-coordinated implementation of that plan.
• Makes regular reports on progress in client's electronic health record.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with addiction and/or co-occurring mental health disorders with at least 3 years in recovery; training or has demonstrated experience in working with peers to help then explore recovery, gain hope, and achieve life goals.
• Typical Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; Bachelor’s degree in human service-related discipline preferred.
• Driving Requirements: Valid driver's license, adequate insurance, and a safe driving record.
• Physical Effort: Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, climb, lift up to 25 pounds, sit, reach, maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways, assist clients with tasks of daily living, and remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed.