Peer Specialist Winter Haven

Position Description

The Peer Specialist will provide direct input, from a consumers perspective, regarding the transformation of community services. Serves as a sounding board for individuals issues and concerns. The Peer Specialist will be a role model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills. Will provide individualized case management services (linkages to medical, community and specialty services) as needed by the person served.

Position Expectation

In keeping with the mission and core values of Tri-County Human Services, all persons served, stakeholders, and fellow employees will be treated with dignity, respect, and shown sensitivity to their cultural diversity. Referenced by policy numbers 100.000, 100.000A, and 100.004.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• 1. Attends and participates in community forms dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues and concerns.
• Speaks to individuals regarding services received and provides feedback to both the department and providers.
• Assist providers in developing role recovery objectives that meet individual progress towards their goals.
• Will discuss with individual's areas within the provider's service delivery that needs to the targeted for improvement.
• Engages individuals to talk about their experiences to promote understanding of life experiences and their effects on functioning and to promote hope for recovery.
• Can develop rapport with persons involved in the criminal justice system, who have alcohol, addiction, mental health issues or who have other behavioral/emotional difficulties.
• Assists with enrollment for services provided by community behavioral health providers.
• Assist provider staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
• Assists in peer group support utilizing the Illness Management and Recovery model to facilitate problem solving, communication skills development and personal growth.
• Provides services with area/s of competency, i.e. life experience, training, certification, education or other background in the service area. Seeks direction from clinicians when needs fall outside areas of competency.
• Assists in completing and maintaining a personal recovery plan which includes identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and goals, interventions to assist the person served in reaching these goals and progress made toward these goals.
• Attends treatment teams meeting as requested to promote and support consumer's insight to recovery as directed.
• Performs other reasonable and related duties as assigned.

Minimum Training and Experience

Requires a high school diploma or G.E.D. and at least one (1) year of full-time experience in a mental health or addictions treatment setting.

Required satisfaction of passing eighty (80%) percent of the core competency job requirements that are required or the position.

Incumbent will have completed all mandatory training required by Tri-County and obtained certification as a Certified Peer Specialist by the Florida Certification Board within one (1) year of initiating this position.

Requires knowledge of addictions treatment and/or mental health treatment programs and supportive services.

Requires general understanding of the causes, nature, and treatment of substance abuse and/or mental health problems.