Lead Peer Specialist (Mental Health Services)

Responsibilities

• Joins with Team LPHA Clinicians to initiate and conduct intake process for all referred PS within 72 hours.
• Shares personal experiences; provide support, education and advocacy to PS.
• Introduces and provides 'warm hand off' for PS to other Team Peer Specialists.
• Maintains close contact with PS who struggle with initial or sustained engagement in ACCS.
• Engages PS in non-directive and supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning.
• Promotes healthcare and employment services access for PS.
• Promotes engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and successful completion of service for all PS.
• Helps maximize choices available to PS as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery and evaluation of their treatment, care coordination, and support services.
• Facilitates Peer Support groups. Connect PS with both psychiatric conditions and substance use/addiction to recovery tools and resources.
• Implements Peer Support-oriented Treatment Plan interventions with PS.
• Helps PS develop self-advocacy skills, individually or in groups.
• Provides information and training on recovery and self-management plans and strategies.
• Assists PS in strengthening relationships with chosen family and friends.
• Assists PS in linking to other community services and build Recovery and support networks outside the service system.
• Provides on-going problem solving, skill training, and side-by-side support to help PS improve their daily living skills and abilities.
• Teaches, consults and collaborates with Team members to ensure recovery values, language, and culture are promoted and upheld.
• On-boards, orients and coaches new Team Peer Specialists.
• Uses and models for other ACCS staff recovery-oriented, person-centered, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change; trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches.
• Performs, trains, supervises, mentors, and models evidenced-based recovery-oriented interventions for PS.
• Supervises Peer Specialists. Provide training, guidance and consultation to Team Peer Specialists.
• Leads the Team's Peer Specialists' efforts to organize and deliver Peer Support to PS.
• Visits all GLEs and SIE settings regularly to provide Peer Support.
• Facilitates Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups.
• Receives consultative and educative supervision, consultation and training from Vinfen's Director of Recovery Services at least monthly, and upon request.
• Engages as a member of the Lead Peer Specialist Community of Practice Workgroup.
• May co-facilitate Peer Specialist Community of Practice Workgroup.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for PS to have a full and satisfying life in the community.
• Strong commitments to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice.
• Knowledge of Peer Support practices and ethical standards.
• Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, principles and modalities.
• Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with PS by the program.
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality of PS.
• Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques.
• Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender differences of PS.
• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques.
• Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of PS.
• Knowledge of community and other resources.
• Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team.
• Ability to promote psychiatric advance directives and relapse prevention techniques.
• Ability to balance competing priorities.
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.