Peer Support Specialist- Adult Behavioral Health (Kalispell, MT)

Responsibilities

• Identifies individual needs through in-person contact with individuals, families, guardians, and significant others.
• Records notes, billing, assessments, referrals, and other data entry assignments via AWARE’s Electronic Healthcare Record System and ICP requirement, Therapy Program, Plan of Care.
• Recognizes and utilizes AWARE’s Core Values, Unconditional Care Philosophy, and wrap around philosophy focused on family engagement.
• Affords assistance in the Individual Support Planning process and identification of unmet needs.
• Participates in crisis intervention services with individuals.
• Positively influences the team culture by advocating for clients, promoting a friendly approach and encouraging the use of recovery-oriented language.
• Works actively within the team itself to help build an environment that operates from a belief in the human potential to grow and an understanding of human diversity.
• Supports residents in strengthening their self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and community outside of the AWARE team.
• Advocates with and for residents both in the larger community and on the team.
• Understands, shares, and discusses multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences such as psychosis with participants and the rest of the AWARE team.
• Peer Specialists intentionally use language in the service of listening to understand and making space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.
• Develops authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, sharing experiences, listening, and collaborating with genuine curiosity and interest.
• Facilitates engagement with AWARE teams by forging strong connections with residents and families, undertaking outreach activities designed to promote community awareness of AWARE services, encouraging help seeking, and at times serving as a bridge between team members and participants when they experience ambivalence about treatment.
• Maintains the Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (CBHPSS) certification as required by the Board of Behavioral Health.

Qualifications

• It is preferable that the individual’s lived experience of mental health challenges includes experience with psychosis during his or her youth. However, personal experience with psychosis is not required.
• Ideal Peer Specialist is a young adult; however, a Peer Specialist of any age may be considered for the position, if he or she relates well to young people.
• The Peer Specialist should understand the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources.
• The Peer Specialist should demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to, and effectively work with participants of mental health services.
• The individual should have two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs.
• Must possess the ability/willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Must have, or be willing to obtain, a valid Montana Driver’s License.
• Must have an acceptable driving record and pass a criminal background check.