ACS PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Description

 Who We Are

Pawnee Mental Health is proud of the high-quality services we offer and the positive outcomes our clients achieve. Our employees are the heart of our organization, and each person contributes to our mission. We’re looking for motivated, passionate individuals who want to use their skills to support others. We believe people facing mental health or substance use challenges deserve the chance to live meaningful, productive lives. If that mission resonates with you, we encourage you to explore this role and join us in making an impact.

What We Offer

 At Pawnee Mental Health, we are committed to supporting our employees’ well-being by offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• HRSA- Health Workforce:  Loan Repayment Program for Health Careers 
• Continuing Education: Pawnee provides up to 5 days of additional paid leave for continuing education and a fund of up to $1,000 annually.
• Medical & Vision Insurance: Accessible plans to support your health needs offered through BCBS or Aetna.
• Dental Insurance: 100% covered by Pawnee for employees.
• Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS): Secure your future with KPERS retirement benefits, a lifetime pension program.
• Life Insurance: coverage up to 150% of your annual income and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy 8 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Generous PTO:   Start earning 8 hours of PTO per month—equivalent to 12 days per year—with an increase to 24 days per year after your first anniversary.
• Paid Medical Leave: Receive a 40-hour bank of paid medical leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access support resources for your personal and professional life.
• Supplemental Benefits: Additional life insurance coverage, ambulance transportation, short term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and more.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

Essential Responsibilities:

1. In line with Peer Support Certification guidelines, Peer Support Specialists must be in stable recovery from a behavioral health condition. Pawnee defines recovery for consumers of Pawnee Mental Health ACS as having graduated from the program or currently in a maintenance phase of services. If in a maintenance phase of services, the employee will need to receive services from a region other than where they are working, which may involve transferring ACS services or working in an alternate location.
2. Assist clients with developing a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences.
3. Assist clients with enhancing their ability to make independent choices and to take a proactive role in treatment including discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician.
4. Review client incidents with supervisor and submit written report as outlined in policy and procedure. 
5. Advocate for client rights and community integration. Preserve dignity and confidentiality of each person on caseload.
6. Perform as a mentor for clients in appropriately responding to the everyday challenges of their circumstances by giving feedback and role modeling.
7. In the absence of a crisis situation, ensure services provided are part of the client’s treatment plan. 
8. Assist clients with identifying and effectively responding to or avoiding identified precursors or triggers that result in functional impairments.
9. Meet administrative and clinical documentation requirements both in terms of content and timeliness. 
10. Meet direct service expectations in terms of type and quantity of services provided as prescribed by management. 
11. Drive to community settings for the delivery of services and related program needs. This includes transporting the client in a personal or company vehicle.
12. Attend and actively participate in clinical supervision and program staffing. Provide input to supervisors and other treatment team members regarding clinical and program issues. 
13. Attend weekly supervision with Peer Support approved Supervisor.
14. Maintain and advance knowledge and skills related specifically to position or to field of work through regular review of pertinent materials or participation in training events as approved by supervisor.
15. Adhere to the standards, policies and instructions established by PMHS Policy and Procedure and any applicable ethical codes within field of employment.
16. Review and comply with the Pawnee Code of Conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
17. Perform all other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or other management personnel.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Required:

• A High School diploma or equivalent.
• Current or past life experience as a primary consumer of mental health services is required. 
• Oral and written communication skills using the English language.
• A valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance maintained in accordance with Pawnee policy and procedure.  
• Basic personal computer skills which enable the entry, retrieval and use of electronic data.

All employees will be required to submit to and pass a background check and drug screening.

Preferred:

• Experience with Microsoft Office software.
• Preference will be given in employment to candidates with Kansas certification as a Peer Specialist (CPS), however, in any case the incumbent must become certified within one year of employment.