Youth Peer Specialist (Part Time)

Responsibilities

• Participates in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectations.
• Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social and recreational skills and to help participants develop insight into their mental illness.
• Promotes recovery-oriented skills to help achieve goals created in the treatment plan.
• Establishes linkages that result in the participant’s active use of resources in the community.
• Assists participants in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of participants when needed.
• Assists staff and participants in understanding recovery and shares unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation.
• Serves as a role model to help staff in understanding recovery and shares unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation.
• Plans and conducts peer support groups focusing on topics related to recovery.
• Performs other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Clinical Record Keeping

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy.
• Documents legibly and in a clear and concise manner.
• Documents individualized participant responses to services provided.

Supervision and Consultation

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement.
• Actively works to enhance skills.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings as required.

Professional Conduct

• Maintains courteous and respectful attitudes towards participants, visitors, and co-workers.
• Treats participants with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Respects participant’s privacy and confidentiality.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Assists participants and visitors as needed.
• Ensures personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Is sensitive to the participant’s needs, expectations, and individual differences.
• Is gentle and calm with participants and families.

Administrative Duties

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.
• Attends appropriate in-service training and other workshops.

Requirements

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
• Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for no less than one (1) year before the age of 26 with a psychotic disorder as defined by the DSM-5.
• Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment.
• A valid driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation, and verifiable vehicle liability insurance.
• Ability to attend DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of youth/young adult specific competencies, to be attained within six (6) months of employment.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the youth/young adult population.
• Knowledge of cultural diversity.
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, and interventions common to acute psychotic participants, as well as non-violent crisis intervention practices.
• Knowledge of a recovery-oriented treatment approach.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to connect to youth/young adults and share skills and knowledge with others.