Peer Support Specialist I - Department of Public Health and Environment
About the role
The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary range of $23.89 - $29.86 per hour, along with a variety of benefits including a guaranteed life-long monthly pension, 140 hours of PTO, and medical, dental, and vision plans.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with other multidisciplinary outreach teams and community partners to develop daily plans focusing on unique demographics, service needs, and other special considerations.
- Engage individuals in trauma-informed care interactions.
- Leverage lived experience and core competencies in Peer Support to cultivate meaningful, authentic relationships grounded in mutual respect and collaboration.
- Engage individuals with goal-setting methods to identify services, resources, partners, and develop timelines to succeed in self-determined goals.
- Provide support for resource navigation to those seeking services.
- Ensure vehicle is fully stocked with supplies necessary for successful operations.
- Maintain documentation standards in recording daily activities and interactions.
- Research and operationalize best practices of peer support and peer navigation services to inform work.
- Create and foster professional relationships with networks and organizations.
- Participate on an emergency preparedness and response team to support DDPHE’s responsibilities outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Requirements
- Two (2) years of delivering peer support services based on lived experience.
- At least one (1) year of working with unhoused community members, individuals with problematic substance use, and individuals diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, and/or engaging in street outreach.
- Bi-cultural, bi-lingual, and/or cultural humility; cross-cultural skills, and experience with culturally diverse populations and demonstrated commitment and ability to advance diversity and inclusion.
- Knowledge of Harm reduction strategies and principles.
- Peer and Family Specialist certification approved by Colorado Providers Association (COPA).
- Knowledge of and/or experience with the Denver Metro communities and organizations, substance use treatment, syringe service programs, medical/hospital and/or community resources.
- Experience of utilizing Microsoft Suite to create documents, tables, create, revise, update, and maintain spreadsheets; create, send, and receive email communication.
- Embody and serve as a role model of the pillars of peer support, including trust, respect, mutuality, understanding, and empowerment.
- Strong ability to be flexible and work with a team.
- Enjoyment from working outside of the typical office space.
- Strong situational awareness and ability to de-escalate situations.
- Possess a proactive mindset, capable of making informed decisions to drive program expansion and foster partnerships with community-based organizations.
Qualifications
- Education Requirement: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate.
- Experience Requirement: One (1) year of experience providing peer support as a volunteer or professional.
- License/Certification Requirement: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.
Benefits
- A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service.
- 457B Retirement Plan.
- Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date.
Skills
- Microsoft Suite proficiency.
- Peer support and peer navigation services knowledge.
- Harm reduction strategies and principles.
- Community engagement and outreach skills.
- Collaboration and teamwork abilities.
- Flexibility and adaptability.
Benefits
- A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service.
- 457B Retirement Plan.
- Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date.
Pay
The salary range for this position is $23.89 - $29.86 per hour.
Schedule
This is a field-based position requiring operating outside, in potential inclement weather conditions including extreme heat or cold. The office for this position is located at 201 W. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80202.
About Everything Else
To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab): Cover letter, Resume, and Job Profile CS3163 Peer Support Specialist I. To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here. Position Type Limited (Fixed Term). Salary Range $23.89 - $35.84 Target Pay $23.89 - $28.45 Agency Dept of Public Health & Environment Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor. The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice. Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.