Peer Support Specialist

At Heartland Family Service, we are committed to building a culture that is trauma informed and values and celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe this allows for better service delivery and innovation, as it encourages our employees to bring various experiences and uniqueness to the workplace.

Trauma Informed Care is an approach to engaging people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives. Trauma Informed Care also acknowledges the effects of working with trauma survivors on our workforce and seeks to build collaborative and supportive working environments and relationships.

If you believe in our mission of creating healthy families and communities, and like a fast pace, collaborative and team-oriented environment, then Heartland Family Service is the agency for you.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF WORK

A person in recovery from a serious mental illness will hold this position. This position is a fully integrated employee who provides highly individualized services at the peer drop-in program and in the community. The focus of their work is to promote client self-determination and decision-making. Peer specialists also provide essential expertise and consultation to other professionals to promote a culture in which each client's point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities. Professionals at this level have excellent communication skills with clients, family members and community institutions. Decision-making, problem solving, and positive interpersonal skills are critical.

Compensation: between $14.52 and $17.31 per hour (depends on years of experience)
Work Schedule: 40 hours per week

Click to see benefits and company perks

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• *Can speak to the experience of others with SPMI (serious persistent mental illness) and can provide support based on similar experiences.
• *Able to engage clients in their own recovery journey.
• *Provides direct services to clients on an individual and group basis in the office and in community settings to teach symptom-management techniques, promotes personal growth and whole health wellness, and development by assisting clients to cope with internal and external stresses and move ahead with their goals.
• *Meets direct service standards, completes billing info in a timely manner.
• *Provides care coordination – knowledgeable of and can provide direction to community resources and other needed supports.
• *Develops/maintains a welcoming, trauma informed atmosphere.
• *Organizes and leads individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
• *Participates actively in case consultations and other discussions related to client needs as an active voice for program members.
• *Has good verbal and written skills.
• *Use computer easily to document information and data required of the program. Documents client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to the agency's established methods and procedures.
• *Assists in independent living skill development.
• *Assists and supports clients to have and effectively use a primary care physician and dentist, and other medical professionals as needed. Encourage the client to focus on whole health wellness.
• Encourages clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Displays a courteous and caring attitude at all times to the clientele, volunteers, and visitors of the Agency.
• Cooperates and collaborates with program area staff, volunteers, other Agency staff.
• Is dependable and punctual regarding scheduling and attendance.
• Abides by all specific program and Agency procedures, policies, and requirements.
• Develops personal and program related skills through participation in internal and external training opportunities including printed material and audio and/or visual media.
• *Creates, maintains and shares a appropriate a dynamic self-care plan.
• *Strives to make connections between the agency and the larger community whenever possible in order to contribute to the agency’s ongoing fundraising and friend-raising efforts.
• *Essential functions of this job is to be performed on company physical work site.
• Performs other program related duties as assigned.

*DENOTES ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of Peer Support Training Academy
• Certified Peer Recovery Support (PRS)
• Peer Support Whole Health training (PSWH) preferred
• Wellness Recovery Action Planning training (WRAP) preferred
• Two years paid or volunteer experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness
• Valid driver’s license/ acceptable driving record