Certified Peer Specialist

Summary
A person in this position functions under the working title of a Certified Peer Specialist. Assignments are varied in nature and are performed under the direct supervision of the Certified Peer Support Supervisor.

Qualifications

· High School Diploma or GED

· PA Certification Board Certificate

Duties

· Serve participants based on Culture2Culture model of support

· Attend weekly “Family of Support” meeting

· Participate in weekly supervision

· Facilitate one check-in per week

· Maintain CEU mandates

Using a formal goal setting process, the CPS will:

· Assist participants in articulating personal goals for recovery and wellness through the use of one-to-one and group sessions. During these sessions the CPS will support participants in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals

· Assist participants in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps they need to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.

· Assist participants in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.

· Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist participants in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.

· Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques and processing skills with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where participants will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and process these challenges. As one who has availed themselves to mental health services, the CPS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use. As much as possible, the CPS will share their own recovery story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery.

· Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach participants how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows group members and CPS to share their experiences. By using strengths to combat negative self-talk.

· Support participants vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.

· Assist participants in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure

Utilizing their recovery experience, the CPS will:

· Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.

· Assist participants in obtaining decent and affordable housing of their choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.

· The CPS models effective processing skills and self-help strategies.

· Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid participants in daily living.

· Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual’s recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful.

· Inform participants about community and natural supports and how to use these in the recovery process.

o Community resources may include but not limited to; social security office, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, recovery support groups, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.

· Assist participants in developing empowerment skills to combat stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions. Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques the CPS provides opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.

· With assistance from the CPS Supervisor and Lead CPS, the CPS will work with the participants and other treatment team members to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each participant’s identified goals.

Service/Recovery Plans will be reviewed and signed by the MHP. The CPS will document the following on the participant’s service/recovery plan:

a. identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and wellness/recovery goals

b. interventions to assist the participant with reaching their goals

c. progress made toward goals via engagement reports

The CPS will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by media, training, reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. The CPS will continue to share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support recovery-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered.

Knowledge Required by the Position

a. Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.

b. Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual participants in self-directed recovery.

c. Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist participants to address symptoms using strategies.

d. Knowledge and skill sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness. Community resources may include but are not limited to: social security office, recovery support groups, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, service organizations, housing providers, etc. The CPS may accompany participants to community resources to assist them in accessing these resources.

e. Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from participants on their strengths and interests.

Culture2Culture, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Lived: 3 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Peer Specialist Certification (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $20