Peer Specialist - Per Diem

About the role

The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an active member of the Mental Health Program and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illnesses in Inpatient Psychiatry. Under supervision of the Director of Inpatient Psychology, the Certified Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers, exhibit competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills, serve as a consumer advocate, provide consumer information and peer support for clients in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-on-one and group sessions.
• Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Serve as a role model to peers, sharing personal experiences and recovery strategies.
• Teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears.
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Independently, or with periodic assistance of other treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to support recovery-oriented services.
• Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials.
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Avoid direct patient care responsibilities.

Requirements

• Education: Associate's Degree preferred or Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Licenses and Credentials: Certified Peer Specialist [DBSA] - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance required.
• Experience: Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Knowledge and Skills: Identify as a person who has lived experience of mental health problems or illness(es), including being either a current or former recipient of mental health services who is in recovery.
• Other: Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, knowledge of community resources necessary for independent living, ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse backgrounds, ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, professional documentation and communication skills, and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate's Degree preferred or Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Licenses and Credentials: Certified Peer Specialist [DBSA] - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance required.
• Experience: No experience in lieu of a degree accepted.

Skills

• Identify as a person who has lived experience of mental health problems or illness(es), including being either a current or former recipient of mental health services who is in recovery.
• Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Knowledge and skills to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
• Knowledge and skills sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness.
• Community resources may include but not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, housing providers, etc.
• Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests.
• Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Professional documentation and communication skills, as well as demonstrated organizational skills.

Benefits

At Mass General Brigham, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth.

Pay

$18.56 - $27.58/Hourly

Schedule

Day (United States of America)