Peer Support Specialist

About the role

LINES OF AUTHORITY: This position is supervised by SMI Clinical Supervisor and/or Clinical Director. This position does not supervise any other personnel.

Principal Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides assistance to identified enrolled members to help them effectively utilize the service delivery system by assisting clinical team members in developing plans of care, identifying needs, accessing supports, partnering with professional staff, and overcoming system barriers.
• Assists enrolled members in coping with the stressors of disabling conditions by modeling and practicing recovery principles, including hope, empowerment, responsibility, mutuality and self-determination, in all activities.
• Demonstrates ability to teach/train curriculum and recovery tools (i.e., WRAP, Recovery Planner, etc.) as evidenced by direct observation and record review.
• Aids clients in developing natural supports and community living as evidenced by direct observation and record review.
• Models personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through appropriate self-disclosure/telling of their recovery story, how needs are respectfully met, and how a belief in themselves is maintained, as evidenced by direct observation and record review.
• Clocks in scheduled activities with clients, required supervision time, and completion of required training as evidenced by direct observation and review of supervision and training logs.
• Communicates regularly with immediate supervisor and clinical team members regarding client progress.
• Completes required clinical documentation as per agency, The Joint Commission, and Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA)/ health plan standards.
• When indicated by the client, peers providing support assist in developing the plan for services.
• The plan for service reflects the inclusion of health coaching and peer support as determined by the client.
• Works well under pressure meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
• Demonstrates cooperative behavior with colleagues and supervisors.
• Provides customer service to internal and external customers and stakeholders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

  Qualifications and Experience

  • High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
  • 21 years of age or over.
  • No convictions for felonies or misdemeanors involving substance abuse, sexual misbehavior or assault.
  • Able to work flexible hours if needed and have ability to arrange own transportation to varied shifts.
  • Must obtain and maintain fingerprint clearance in Arizona.
  • Must obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid certification.
  • Must complete Crisis to Care Intervention training within thirty days of hire.
  • Must have successfully completed Peer Support Training Course with a passing score on Recovery Competency Test; must provide documentation of successful completion.

  Skills/Abilities

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Able to utilize personal computer to document service provision and Excel spreadsheets for tracking purposes.
  • Good interpersonal skills including the ability to instruct or coach others individually and in a group setting in the development of recovery skills.
  • Able to maintain a calm, non-defensive, supportive attitude during crisis or potential crisis situations.
  • Able to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Demonstrate ability to dress and behave professionally.
  • Able to seek and utilize supervisory feedback and direction.

  Requirements for Special Populations

  • SUBSTANCE USE: Staff responsible for providing services to substance using members has appropriate training, education, experience, performance and demonstrate competency. Staff must be able to gather and assess information about: The relationship of each member's physical status to the substance use. The nature of the emotional compulsion to use alcohol and/or other drugs. The intensity of the member's preoccupation with using alcohol/and/or other drugs. Staff Must Also Demonstrate Competency In Their Ability To Interpret information about a member's use of alcohol and/or other drugs. Develop a written summary and/or treatment plan based on member's problems and needs; Provide appropriate services.
  • CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: Staff responsible for providing services to child and adolescent members have appropriate training, education, experience, performance and demonstrate competency. Staff demonstrates knowledge of growth and development of children and adolescents. Staff demonstrates their ability to develop treatment plans and services based on member's problem and needs. Staff demonstrates knowledge and skill in working with family systems.
  • SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL: Staff responsible for providing services to seriously mentally ill members has appropriate training, education, experience, performance and demonstrate competency. Staff has knowledge and ability to gather and interpret information about seriously mentally ill members. Staff understands the member's needs and the range, intensity, and duration of care, habilitation and rehabilitation required.
  • INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED: Staff responsible for providing services to members with intellectual disabilities has appropriate training, education, experience, performance and demonstrate competency. Staff has knowledge and ability to gather and interpret information about a member with an intellectual disability. Staff understands the member's needs and the range, intensity, and duration of care, habilitation or rehabilitation required.