Certified Peer Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY: The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) functions as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by persons in recovery to have a satisfying life.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drawing on one's common experience as a peer, provide persons in recovery with peer counseling and support to validate their experiences, provide guidance, and encourage them to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery
• Assist in the development of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP); ensure immediate changes are made in plans as a person in recovery's needs change; model and support families, and advocate for individuals' rights and preferences
• Serve as a mentor to persons in recovery to promote hope, empowerment, and community integration
• Model and promote the skills required for employment
• Participate in staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings by offering their perspective on the progress of individuals in the program
• Document individuals' progress in their medical record according to established methods, procedures and guidelines
• Provide expertise and consultation, from a recovery person's perspective, to the entire CPS team concerning experiences of symptoms of mental illness, the effects and side-effects of medications, responses to and preferences of treatment, and experiences of recovery
• Collaborate with the team to promote a culture where individuals' experiences and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected and self-determination and decision-making are maximized and supported
• Help persons in recovery and other CPS team members, in individual and group discussions, identify understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma and stigma within the team
• Collaborate with the CPS team to ensure the protection of rights in order to help persons in recovery to improve their knowledge of their rights and grievance or complaint procedures by way of interaction and discussions with individuals
• Increase awareness of, and support participation in, self-help programs, advocacy organizations and the use of natural supports to promote recovery by engaging individuals in discussion and engaging clinical staff and outside resources, as needed
• Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of persons in recovery and response to treatment by suggesting appropriate changes in the recovery action plan to ensure that services respond to individuals' desires and needs
• Work program hours of operation (6p-12a Mon-Fri, 1p-11p Sat-Sun).
• Support and coach (if needed) the individual in finding and maintaining a safe and affordable place to live by using the internet, linking to agencies for housing resources
• Teach money-management skills (e.g. budgeting and paying bills) and coach individuals in accessing financial services (e.g., professional financial counseling, emergency loan services)
• Support and coach (if needed) individuals in effectively engaging a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists by using the internet, contacting providers, going with individuals to their doctor's appointments to advocate for the individual
• Support and coach (if needed) the individual in seeking employment by searching the internet and making contact with appropriate job searching agencies and companies
• Pursue training and development opportunities that serve to ensure quality service provision and maintain CPS certification through the Pennsylvania Certification Board.
• Adhere to the Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics/Conduct
• Perform other duties as assigned

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• High School diploma or GED, bachelor's degree in human services related field preferred
• Current CPS certification through the Pennsylvania Certification Board
• Must possess the unique skill set as a person in recovery to extend knowledge to individuals served. Must be comfortable sharing his/her struggles with wellness with their supervisors as it relates to performing the assigned job duties so that appropriate and necessary accommodations can be made to assist them in maintaining their wellness
• Must be available during program operations (6p-12a Mon-Fri, 1p-11p Sat-Sun).
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated excellent judgment with the ability to independently solve problems and make decisions with little or no need for direct supervision
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated basic experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, and Outlook