Certified Peer Specialist (Part Time)

The Certified Peer Specialist will provide professional, quality program services to the people served by the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Team. Serve as an advocate and liaison for and on behalf of person served regarding their rights and benefits. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide peer counseling and support to validate participant’s experiences.   

• Have a strong dedication to recovery. 

• Provide guidance and encouragement to individuals to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery. 

• Serve as a mentor to promote hope and empowerment.   

• Help FEP team members to better understand and empathize with each person’s unique and subjective experience and perception. 

• Provide expertise, cross-training and consultation from the perspective of a mental health service user to the entire team. 

• Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which self-determination, decision-making in treatment planning, and protection of rights are supported for each participant.   

• Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of mental health symptoms and response to treatment for each person. 

• Work with participants on all aspects of rehabilitation and support following the NAVIGATE Manual. 

• Assist in the provision of direct services to participants on an individual, group, and family basis.   

• Teach symptom-management techniques and promote personal growth and development with mental health issues and substance use issues. 

• Assist, teach, and support participants with activities of daily living, vocational skills, accessing housing, maintaining financial support, and utilizing buses and other transportation in the community. 

• Provide side-by-side support, coaching and encouragement to help participants socialize and carry out leisure time activities.   

• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities and provide opportunities to practice social skills. 

• Attend and participate in scheduled team meetings. 

• Complete documentation, reports, and charting contemporaneously and in an organized manner. 

• Participate actively in on-going professional growth and development; maintain appropriate professional behavior and participate in supervision. 

• Maintain a pattern of regular work hours. 

• Must be able to transport participants in the community. 

• Other duties as assigned.  

Requirements

Required: 

• High school diploma or equivalent.  

• Must be at least 21 years of age 

• Must have primary diagnosis of serious mental illness, be a current or former recipient of mental health services, must demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills and a strong dedication to recovery.  

• Credentialed as a DHS Certified Peer Specialist 

Preferred: 

• Experience with delivery of mental health services to people with SPMI.