Peer Support Specialist

Peer Support Specialist

LOCATION

218 Fast Ice Drive, Midland, MI 48642

SCHEDULE

This is a part time position, 20 hours per week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between the hours of 8am and 5pm. The schedule will be discussed further during the interview process.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Hourly Range: $16.53 - $22.54 per hour depending on experience

• Accrued paid time off (sick and personal)
• Paid Holidays (pro-rated)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Wellness Program
• Voluntary Flexible Spending Accounts
• Voluntary Retirement Savings Account
• Voluntary Life Insurance

SUMMARY

General Description: Peer Support Specialists provide a variety of services under the direction of licensed staff. Employs unique background and skill level from personal experience with mental illness and recovery, promoting services and supports to help consumers achieve their personal goals of community membership, independence, and productivity. Helps foster a sense of hope and recovery.

Responsibilities and Duties: Peer Support Specialists support, mentor, and partner with consumers for the specific purpose of achieving increased hope, community inclusion, personal wellness, participation in independence, recovery, resiliency and/or productivity. Employs ability to engage and gain trust and respect of consumers based on shared experience and perspectives with mental illness. Shares recovery stories and/or advocacy involvement and initiative for the purpose of assisting recovery and self-advocacy. Through shared understanding and respect, supports people to become and stay engaged in the recovery process. Promotes, improves, and educates about whole health and self management including integration of physical and mental healthcare, and assists in developing wellness plans and advance directives. Provides person-centered planning process assistance/partnership, assists with plan implementation, and provides ongoing support in connecting people to community resources and formal/informal supports. Assists with navigating human service systems and accessing entitlements. Provides supportive services during and after a crisis. Provides non-medical supports such as socialization and relationship-building, facilitates leisure choices and participation in regular community activities, and attends medical appointments. May develop, implement, and facilitate support/treatment groups. May provide vocational support (skill-building or supported employment). May provide housing assistance and support. May actively engage with individuals who have criminal justice involvement. May provide services as part of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, a Crisis Intervention Team, an Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) team, and/or a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) team. Educates colleagues, and advocates for and advances the field by sharing perspectives, recovery stories, and experience.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

General Education: High School Graduate or GED is required

Other Preparation: Individuals providing Peer Support Services should demonstrate the ability to connect with others and build rapport with individuals with shared experiences.

Job-Related Experience: Sufficient experience to perform the position at a satisfactory level.

Licenses, etc.: Individuals who are functioning as Peer Support Specialists serving beneficiaries must meet MDHHS specialized training and education requirements including: having a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition that has caused substantial life disruption; having been the recipient of mental health treatment and/or services for at least one year; having personal experience navigating complex mental health treatment services; have been in recovery for at least one year and self-identify as having a metal health condition with willingness to share their recovery story. Individuals must have a valid driver's license while operating a vehicle while on agency business.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Knowledge: Personal knowledge of the effects of serious mental illness on individuals. Knowledge of community resources and recovery concepts. Trauma-informed perspective.

Skills: Effective listening, writing, and communication skills. Ability to obtain the skills to use computers/technology at a satisfactory level to complete necessary documentation and work with staff and consumers via teleconferencing platforms.

Abilities: Ability to demonstrate recovery expertise including knowledge of approaches to support others in recovery from a mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Patience and ability to observe and record recipient behavior. Ability to communicate well with recipients and staff both orally and in writing. Ability to be independently motivated and to work with other professional staff as a team member. Must be flexible, remain calm under pressure, and maintain composure in stressful situations including comments, gestures, and sometimes outrageous behaviors. Ability to follow a budget and/or agency procedures and project needed supplies for planned activities. Must demonstrate respect for recipients with an understanding of their needs, support expression of their ideas and emotions, and assist them in positive decision-making skills. Ability to interact with, relate to, and redirect recipients. Maintain records, exercise independent and mature judgment, and work with other community agencies.

Physical Demands: Work involves a significant amount of walking and standing. Ability to communicate verbally is critical. Some driving to appointments, home visits, and community outings is necessary.

Work Environment: Work is performed in a typical office setting, a home office setting, residential homes, and other community settings. Requires working effectively with a variety of people in sometimes difficult circumstances.

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