Peer Specialist, Chatom

Responsibilities

Primary Job Function and Responsibilities:

 

• Promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assisting individuals in identifying strengths; wellness goals; setting objectives, and identifying barriers.
• Attending treatment team meetings with the individual to promote the individual's use of self-directed advocacy tools; assisting the individual in goal planning, assisting the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in the community.
• Assisting individuals in obtaining information about their benefits (SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, etc.).
• Engaging individuals in outpatient programs and services to encourage recovery.
• Modeling self-advocacy skills.
• Teaching wellness management strategies and helping individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in their personal lives; using manualized strategies such as IMR/WMR, WRAP, and others.
• Connecting to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolation.
• Providing education to other staff to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into service delivery.
• Providing resources and teaching transportation skills (teaching bus routes, etc.).
• Sharing his or her own personal story to model how to choose, obtain, and maintain stability.
• Supporting individuals in making informed decisions about treatment, housing, benefits, and building community connections.
• Supporting the individuals in developing crisis plans and safety plans.
• Building social skills in the community that will enhance recovery.
• Assisting in overcoming barriers to recovery and addressing challenges.
• Assisting in obtaining the proper documentation necessary for benefits, employment, and housing.
• Assisting the individual in completing paperwork.
• Exploring aspirations with the individual.
• Leading recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings with the job seeker if appropriate.

 Supervision and Consultation:

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement

 Record Keeping:

• Maintains confidential files containing required information
• Maintains documentation for those individuals receiving services
• Provides timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including, Medicaid, and others.

 Courteous and respectful towards consumers, visitors and co-workers:

• Treats consumers with care, dignity, and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families

 Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• 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 to required in-service training and other workshops. 

Qualifications

High school diploma or its equivalent; must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for no less than one (1) year; ability to identify as a consumer of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment; and Peer Specialist Certification through State of Alabama Department of Mental Health, or obtained within 6 months of employment.  Must be 23 years of age, maintain a valid Alabama driver license and an acceptable driving record, and have proof of current liability insurance.

 

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult and child populations
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of Substance Use Disorders
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers; as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of available community employment resources
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults and children with psychiatric disorders

 

Experience providing employment service