Certified Peer Support Specialist -$1000 Signing Bonus

Pay: $19-$22.00/hr. (dependent upon experience, level of education, etc.)

Job Types: Full-time positions available. *NOTE: The position requires driving and in-person services. Mileage reimbursement is offered.

Company Description: People Empowering People of AZ Inc., has been serving the mental health needs of Arizona families for more than 15 years. Our agency specializes in providing outpatient services to the SMI, GMH, SU, and Deaf Populations across the valley. We treat a number of mental health disorders. Our focus is to help individuals heal, energize and become aware of their inner strengths.

Job Responsibilities: The Peer Specialist (PS) is an active member of the People Empowering People of Az, Inc. and provides peer support services to patients with serious mental illnesses in the People Empowering People of Az, Inc. Under supervision of the assigned supervisor, the Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for patients in outpatient and inpatient settings. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. The Peer Specialist in the provision of services will utilize recovery resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets, and other written materials.

Using a formal goal setting process, the PS will:

· Assist patient in articulating personal goals for recovery with one-to- one and group sessions. During these sessions the PS will support patients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals

· Assist patients in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.

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

· Independently or with periodic assistance of higher graded treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where patients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. As one who has availed themselves to mental health services, the PS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports, and resources they use. As much as possible, the PS 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 patients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum, which allows group members and PS to share their experiences. By using identified literature, media, etc. patients will gain hope; learn to identify their strengths and combat negative self-talk.

• Support patients’ 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 patients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure

Utilizing their recovery experience, the PS will:

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

· Assist the patient in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her 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 PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.

· Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery based services that will aid the patient 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 patients about community and natural supports and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, patients’ service organizations, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.

· Assist patients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions. Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques, the PS 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 assigned supervisor, the Peer Specialist will work with the patients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each patient’s identified goals. Treatment/Recovery Plans will be reviewed and signed by the assigned supervisor and other participating treatment team staff. The PS will document the following on the patient’s treatment/recovery plan:

1. Identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals

2. Interventions to assist the patient with reaching their goals for recovery

3. Progress made toward goals

2 The PS will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. The PS 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 patient 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 the patient to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.

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, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, patients’ service organizations, housing providers, etc. The PS may accompany patient 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 the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests.

SCOPE AND EFFECT:

The Peer Specialist assists and guides patients toward the identification and achievement of specific goals defined by the patient and specified in the Individual Service Plan (ISP). The work involves a variety of routine, standardized tasks that facilitate work performed by higher-level providers. Work performed by the incumbent will promote community socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, self-help, and development of natural supports.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work will be performed in a wide range of settings, including the medical center; in patients home or family homes; in community-based outpatient settings, community agencies; or in transport vehicles (public or government). Work areas are often noisy, irregular, and unpredictable and can be stressful at times. Patients demonstrate varying levels of recovery and symptoms.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• HS Diploma or GED
• Valid Drivers License
• CPR & First Aid (required)
• Proof of Auto Insurance (required)
• Own Transportation (This position requires driving and in-person services)
• Peer Support Certification (required in order to be considered for position, will not accept applicants without)
• Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card (required in order to be considered for position, will not accept applicants without)
• Willing to Drive
• Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply!

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Computer skills including working knowledge of Google Docs, Sheets, and Calendar. Experience with Apple products is a plus. In addition effective interpersonal skills, ability to follow instructions, good written and verbal communication skills, time management skills, knowledge of psychiatric conditions, typing skills, and sound judgment.