Mental Health Peer Specialist

PLEASE APPLY ONLY IF YOU MEET THE EDUCATIONAL AND LICENSURE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Job Summary

Will provide direct support for individuals who have shared similar experiences of being diagnosed with mental health conditions, to including family members, significant others or any other supportive parties. The Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) will offer a level of acceptance, understanding, and validation to support participants’ recovery. The MHPS will work with case managers to make necessary referrals and coordinate services to ensure that clients have access to available health and social services to obtain an optimum level of care. They will also collaborate with evaluation team to contribute to evaluation of data collection. Must be certified or able to obtain certification as an MHPS within six months post-hire.

 Required Education and Work Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must have completed the certification training
• Certification as a Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS)

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist with outreach and enrollment of clients into the program and collect necessary data as determined by the contract.
2. Complete a strength-based assessment of clients’ strengths, challenges, and goals in multiple life domains and assist in the development of an integrated recovery plan based on the wants, needs, and interests of the client.
3. Employ brief interventions in the context of a peer to peer relationship to engage clients and encourage retention in program services; this may include crisis intervention, group, individual or family consultations.
4. Serve as the point of contact through the entire continuum of care from enrollment through treatment and aftercare, including providing information on available community resources, assistance in accessing services, coordination of services, and transportation.
5. Introduce and link clients to recovery community organizations, peer-run services, and other community organizations that will assist them in meeting recovery needs and building recovery capital.
6. Make frequent contact with clients while in treatment, in services, and aftercare through home visits, internet communication, telephone, or office visits to identify continuous needs associated with the client’s recovery.
7. Assist with follow ups every 6 months and at discharge in order to monitor progression and/or regression, intervene on a timely basis, and encourage continued recovery activities.

 Peer Recovery Support Coach

1. Facilitate peer to peer group sessions regarding mental health in accordance with client and programmatic needs.
2. Maintain accurate, neat, and timely documentation on all case files and submit required forms for approval on a timely basis.    
3. Maintain current knowledge of other available community services. Keep abreast of current literature and developments in the field; help establish curricula for living skills, mental health, substance abuse, and recovery to include social attitudes and laws about drug use. Perform other duties as assigned.
4. Pursue the Mental Health Peer Certification if not already certified.

 Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This position requires the ability to move throughout the community and occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds.