Certified Peer Support Specialist

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Peer Respite Program is a pilot project of La Familia. This program is designed to support individuals reentering the community from various access points, including locked facilities,  to address their mental health needs and assist in avoiding future forensic involvement.

La Familia’s Peer Respite is 6-bed short-term respite home, run by and for adult participants, with lived experience of mental health and/ or substance use disorders and aims to increase the quality of mental health services for these individuals, and support their reentry and recovery.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist will provide housing care and programming to the Peer Respite residents. This could include accompanying clients to appointments and ensuring they receive the necessary services. The Peer Support Specialist will also provide one-on-one coaching and life skills groups to the residents, link them to housing, as well as health-related resources in the community. This position will provide peer support to participants through: participation in orientation and welcoming participants; serving as role model and credible messenger; providing understanding and validation through a shared perspective; providing mentoring, coaching, motivating and/or teaching as participants progress through respite services, education and employment goals; facilitation of direct linkage to community resources with focus on Behavioral Health and Mental Health services; facilitation of groups, workshops, activities; providing feedback for Quality Assurance and strategic planning; complement work of other staff through thoughtful teamwork. The Certified Peer Support Specialist will deliver services that address and improve the quality of resident’s a mental wellness through increasing access to services that support independence. The Peer Support Specialist aims to reduce further justice involvement through their work.

Persons with lived experience of recovery from a behavioral or mental health challenge are encouraged to apply. 

This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

We are looking to fill the following shift graveyard: 

Monday 11:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m., Tuesday-Friday 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. 

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Provide outreach, engagement, linkage, and follow-up services to residents 
• Serve as role model and coach to inspire, engage, and advocate for residents and their family member’s/caregiver’s rights 
• Accompany residents to appointments and other services with the goal of coaching and promoting sustained independence 
• Collaborate with the Peer Advocate and Peer Director in weekly case management and peer review meetings, as well as monthly training sessions 
• Participate in the creation and implementation of the daily program and schedule for residents that shall include a variety of activities, educational opportunities, promote mental wellness, and decrease future justice involvement
• Facilitate appropriate supportive groups
• Assist with housing chores and food preparation 
• Provide complete and thorough documentation, e.g. progress notes, end of shift reports, and any other documentation related to general flow of shift.
• Timely respond to work-related calls and emails in accordance with La Familia policies
• Utilize motivational interviewing and other culturally appropriate interventions to assist residents 
• Must maintain confidentiality concerning the resident’s protected health information (PHI) in a