Peer Support Specialist

Position Summary:

The Peer Support Specialist assists individuals/families with substance abuse and/or mental health diagnoses. Assists in developing skills and competencies needed to successfully build a personal support network and to live and work competitively in the community. The role of the Peer Support Specialist is to provide recovery support, consumer education, consumer intervention, and consumer advocacy. The Peer Support Specialist also provides the consumer perspective to recovery and empowers the consumer.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide recovery support to consumers
• Conducts skills building groups and other activities as assigned by the supervisor
• Acts as an appropriate role model for consumers
• Advocate for and support children and families in a caring and respectful manner.
• Provides coaching and mentoring services to consumers as assigned by the supervisor
• Serve as a family/individual representative and advocate in program/agency activities.
• Assist in the facilitation of individual/family support and educational groups.
• Provide Peer support to individuals/families by using personal and professional life experiences.
• Work in partnership with the case manager provider to link individuals/families to needed services.
• Respond to the cultural and linguistic needs and preferences of individuals/families, stakeholders and system partners.
• Assist individuals/families to identify and build natural supports as well as self-advocacy and self-efficacy skills.
• Help individuals/families identify strengths and recognize successes to promote self-esteem and empowerment.
• Actively promote and educate individuals/families on program is and availability peer support services at any point in treatment.
• Assist individuals/families to develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan when needed.
• Document one-to-one sessions, telephone calls and/or visits with families/individuals to reflect their supportive role.
• Provide peer support services to additional populations, as needed
• Participate in case conference
• Understands HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Participate in performance improvement activities
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Completes all orientation and mandated training activities, including E-Learning Courses, within required timeframes, and in accordance with the criteria established for this position.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licensures:

• Certification as a certified peer specialist in good standing and recognized by the Florida Certification Board is preferred at time of hire. Peer certification can be completed via ongoing coaching and training on–site within 1 year of hiring date If the Peer Support Specialist is certified, he/she must comply with annual CEU requirements.; Preference will be given to those candidates who are currently certified;

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or related field is preferred; 
• High School Diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of college-level education is required.

Experience and Competencies: 

• Must be a parent/caregiver of a child recipient of public or private mental health, substance abuse and/or child welfare related services or have personally been the recipient of said services.
• If engaged in own recovery, must be for a minimum of two years demonstrated by an effort of self-directed recovery. May not be a current recipient of residential care. 
•  Experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental health/ substance abuse population is preferred
• Must have reliable means of transportation
• Must have availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Must have familiarity with Miami-Dade County.
• Maintains confidential files and records.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form with consumers, peers, and staff
• Demonstrates good reliability in attendance
• Demonstrates an ability to meet deadlines and to complete tasks
• Ability to use time efficiently
• Ability to follow policies and procedures
• Ability to respond appropriately to supervisory directives or negotiate appropriately
• Knowledge of and ability to apply appropriate ethical principles and practices
• Ability to recognize and maintain appropriate boundaries with consumers, peers, staff, and supervisors
• Ability to treat others with dignity and respect
• Understanding of federal, state, and agency standards regarding the confidentiality of consumer information and the ability to maintain confidential information
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer to utilize the support systems and community resources available.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret agency and grant required documents
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Ability to read, write and speak English as well as Spanish and/or Creole is preferred.  
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence as well as speak effectively before groups (family, youth, staff and community) is preferred
• Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts.
• Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values
• Knowledge of Incident Reporting
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Familiarity with WestCare services and programs
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer to utilize the support systems and community resources available.
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively with culturally diverse staff and consumers
• Demonstrated respect for an individual’s cultural and ethnic values when interacting with staff and consumers
• Articulates a working definition of trauma
• Understands the impact of trauma
• Understands re-traumatization
• Ability to create a safe, welcoming physical, supportive, and relational environment for consumers and staff
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
  • Maintains a good attendance record.
  • Observes working hours
  • Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor
  • Works independently with minimal supervision
  • Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job
  • Work time is always productive
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and  regulatory agencies
  • Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others.
  • Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time.
  • Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare.
  • Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision
  • Maintains a positive attitude toward work
• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
  • Work area is clean and orderly.
  • Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
  • Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Center’s reporting procedures
• Presents a positive personal image
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test. 
• Ability utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite
• Ability to utilize internal electronic health record software
• Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character
• Clearance in Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks, as required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or outpatient treatment setting; and
• Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands: 

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds.  Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).  Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. 
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication. 
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility. 
• The normal work routine may involve exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands: 

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.  
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.  
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings. 
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.