Peer Support Specialist 1

Job Description:

Title: Peer Support Specialist I

Division: Permanent Supportive Housing

Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director of Community Engagement

Revision date: April 2023

Supervises: N/A

PURPOSE          

According to prescribed policies and procedures of the organization including all applicable state, federal and accreditation regulations assume responsibility for delivering peer support services to clients with mental illness, substance abuse, and/or challenges related to homelessness.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborates with Case Managers and Director of Community Engagement to provide appropriate services to residents related to their personal needs and goals.
• Assists residents in identifying, setting and accomplishing personal goals for recovery through the use of individual and group activities.
• Utilizes tools such as the Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) or Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist residents in creating their own individual wellness plans.
• Facilitates peer support groups to teach residents about healthy social interaction, overcoming fears, problem solving, and increasing overall personal wellness and recovery.
• Follows‐up with clients regarding recovery; encourages and teaches clients skills, including self-advocacy, that will increase independence and help them maintain housing.
• Collects data and documents encounters in accordance with Federal, State, local and private funder requirements in electronic record, service log and other documentation tools within 24 hours.
• Assists clients in developing Activities of Daily Living skills (ADL), such as cooking, housekeeping, personal hygiene, budgeting or shopping.
• Transports and/or accompanies clients to off‐site activities as needed.

STANDARDS

• Complete all required training and develop individual professional development goals annually.
• Ensure service delivery aligns with policy, regulation, and case management standards.
• Efficiently and effectively complete items on position task list including specific duties based on location and specific population being served.
• Ensure client files are compliant with agency standards.
• Submit accurate and complete service logs for billable and non‐billable services weekly.
• Minimum of 50% of worked hours must be direct client service delivery.
• Manage case load up to 100.

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to demonstrate clear, professional boundaries in a team environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic math and analytic skills.
• Basic computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet, database).
• Basic understanding of needs of low‐income and homeless individuals.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Perform operational or administrative work directly related to the management of the organization.
• Perform operation or administrative work directly related to running or managing the organization’s business operations.
• Formulate, interpret or direct implementation of management policies or operating practices.
• Make decisions with a significant financial impact on the organization, such as negotiating and agreeing to significant vendor contracts, insurance policies, or deciding revenue-building strategies.

EXPECTATIONS

• Demonstrates and maintains a positive, professional manner, manages time efficiently and effectively, provides leadership as a role model to promote a team approach, collaborates and participates in policy creation and appropriate problem-solving methods.

• Must adhere to all policies, procedures, terms and conditions set forth in the National Church Residences’ Employee Information Guide (EIG), the Code of Conduct, as well as any facility handbook, including but not limited to, corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state, local regulations and laws.

• With respect to Resident Rights, ensures all care is provided with respect and dignity for the residents/clients, their families and the staff. Reports all complaints made by residents/clients and/or families to the appropriate supervisors, reports all allegations of abuse, misappropriation of funds/resident property and/or any other corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state and local regulations and laws.

• Completes all annual education requirements timely, including but not limited to Compliance, Privacy, Security and HIPAA training and exhibits behavior as set forth by the Code of Conduct in the performance of their duties.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education:          High School Diploma or GED preferred.

Experience:        2 or more years of sobriety in mental health or substance abuse or homelessness

One year paid or volunteer experience working with individuals with mental illness, homelessness or substance abuse, or additional educational courses in human services.

Satisfactory completion of Peer Supporter training and Peer Supporter certification at time of hiring or within the first two months of employment.

Licensure:           Valid driver’s license.

Mental:                Must have the ability to understand data and carry out verbal and written instructions.

Skills:                  Must have good working computer skills with basic professional computer software (Microsoft Office suite, Windows, etc.) and the capacity for learning new software systems quickly.  Must be self-directed with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage tasks and assignments concurrently.  Must have strong motivational skills and a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ).

              _______________________________________________________________________

With respect to said job description, estimate the daily time spent performing the following activities.

Rare (R) = 0-24%; Sometimes (S) = 25-49%; Frequent (F) = 50-74%; Continuous (C) = 75% plus

R Climbing R Stooping Lifting/Carrying S 10-25 lbs.

R Standing R Pushing R 26-50 lbs.

R Sitting R Pulling R 51-75 lbs.

F Walking F Driving R 76 + lbs.

Supervision Received:     Employee generally operates by himself/herself checking with supervisor when in doubt.

Working Conditions:        Normal office conditions. Local travel only.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I hereby understand and agree to the above description of the duties required.

Signature                                                                                                                                                             Date

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, military status, disability, genetic information and/or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.