Peer support specialist

Job Details:

Job Location: Pembroke Pines - 1633 Poinciana Drive - Pembroke Pines, FL

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School

Salary Range: $19.23 - $19.23 Hourly

Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Position Summary:

The Peer Support Specialist assists individuals/families with substance abuse and/or mental health diagnoses. Assists in developing skills and competencies needed to successfully build a personal support network and to live and work competitively in the community. The role of the Peer Support Specialist is to provide recovery support, consumer education, consumer intervention, and consumer advocacy. The Peer Support Specialist also provides the consumer perspective to recovery and empowers the consumer.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide recovery support to consumers
• Conduct skills building groups and other activities as assigned by the supervisor
• Acts as an appropriate role model for consumers
• Advocate for and support children and families in a caring and respectful manner.
• Provides coaching and mentoring services to consumers as assigned by the supervisor
• Serve as a family/individual representative and advocate in program/agency activities.
• Assist in the facilitation of individual/family support and educational groups.
• Provide Peer support to individuals/families by using personal and professional life experiences.
• Work in partnership with the case manager provider to link individuals/families to needed services.
• Respond to the cultural and linguistic needs and preferences of individuals/families, stakeholders and system partners.
• Assist individuals/families to identify and build natural supports as well as self-advocacy and self-efficacy skills.
• Help individuals/families identify strengths and recognize successes to promote self-esteem and empowerment.
• Actively promote and educate individuals/families on program is and availability peer support services at any point in treatment.
• Assist individuals/families to develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan when needed.
• Document one-to-one sessions, telephone calls and/or visits with families/individuals to reflect their supportive role.
• Provide peer support services to additional populations, as needed
• Participate in case conference
• Understands HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Participate in performance improvement activities
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Completes all orientation and mandated training activities, including E-Learning Courses, within required timeframes, and in accordance with the criteria established for this position.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications:

• Certifications/Licensures: Certification as a certified peer specialist in good standing and recognized by the Florida Certification Board is preferred at time of hire. Peer certification can be completed via ongoing coaching and training on–site within 1 year of hiring date. If the Peer Support Specialist is certified, he/she must comply with annual CEU requirements.; Preference will be given to those candidates who are currently certified;
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or related field is preferred; High School Diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of college-level education is required.
• Experience and Competencies: Must be a parent/caregiver of a child recipient of public or private mental health, substance abuse and/or child welfare related services or have personally been the recipient of said services. If engaged in own recovery, must be for a minimum of two years demonstrated by an effort of self-directed recovery. May not be a current recipient of residential care. Experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental health/ substance abuse population is preferred. Must have reliable means of transportation. Must have availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. Must have familiarity with Miami-Dade County.

Working Conditions:

Work is primarily performed in an office or outpatient treatment setting; and Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

• Physical Demands: Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Mental Demands: Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions. Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions. Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.