Peer Support Specialist - Iowa Behavioral Health

At Heartland Family Service, we are committed to building a culture is trauma informed and values and celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe this allows for better service delivery and innovation, as it encourages our employees to bring various experiences and uniqueness to the workplace.

Trauma Informed Care is an approach to engaging people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives.  Trauma Informed Care also acknowledges the effects of working with trauma survivors on our workforce, and seeks to build collaborative and supportive working environments and relationships.

If you believe in our mission of creating healthy families and communities, and like a fast pace, collaborative and team oriented environment, then Heartland Family Service is the agency for you.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF WORK

A person in recovery from a serious mental illness will hold this position. This position is a Mental Health Court team member who provides highly individualized services in the community and promotes client self-determination and decision-making. Peer specialists also provide essential expertise and consultation to the entire team to promote a culture in which each client's point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities. Professionals at this level have excellent communication skills with clients, family members and community institutions.   Decision-making, problem solving, and positive interpersonal skills are critical.

Compensation: between $15.49 and $18.46 per year (wage is determined by total years of relevant experience.
Work Schedule: 37.5 hours per week

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of Peer Support Training Academy
• Familiar with the Georgia Model of Peer Support or CCAR Model
• Wellness Recovery Action Planning training (WRAP)
• Two years paid or volunteer experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness preferred.
• Valid drivers license/ acceptable driving record

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• *Trained in the Georgia-like Peer Support Model or the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recover Model.
• *Can speak to the experience of others with mental health and substance use issues and can provide support based on similar experiences.
• *Demonstrates compassion and passion for helping this member population.
• *Provides direct services to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach symptom-management techniques, promotes personal growth and whole health wellness, and development by assisting clients to cope with internal and external stresses and move ahead with their goals.
• *Provides care coordination - understands and can provide direction to resources and other needed supports of the member population.
• *Works within the team model – is able to provide the level of service needed based on expertise/experience and understanding the experience members are having
• *Comfortable moving about community, working with members in their homes, talking to professionals about member needs.
• *Participates actively in case consultations and other discussions related to member needs as an active voice for program members.
• *Has good verbal and written skills.
• *Use computer easily to document information and data required of the program.
• *Assists in skill development in the areas of personal hygiene and grooming tasks, nutrition education, meal planning, grocery shopping, food preparation, locating and maintaining a safe and affordable place to live, daily household maintenance, locating transportation services.
• *Assists and supports clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician and dentist, and eye doctor if they wear glasses. Encourage the client to focus on whole health wellness.
• Displays a courteous and caring attitude at all times to the clientele, volunteers, and visitors of the Agency.
• Cooperates and collaborates with program area staff, volunteers, other Agency staff.
• Is dependable and punctual regarding scheduling and attendance.
• Abides by all specific program and Agency procedures, policies, and requirements.
• Develops personal and program related skills through participation in internal and external training opportunities including printed material and audio and/or visual media.
• *Creates, mainta