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Title

Peer Recovery Specialist II - PACT 

Req Number BEH-16-00021  
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time  
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt  
Description

CLASS SUMMARY:

Peer Recovery Specialist II has 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 individual to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk. Peer Specialist II provides peer support; serves as a consumer advocate; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; promotes recovery from substance abuse and/or mental health conditions; promotes employment, education, health, and community integration; and serves as a role model for personal recovery. The Peer Specialist II may assist individuals with basic physical, financial, social, personal, and recovery needs.  Services carried out by the Peer Specialist II include outreach, monitoring, advocacy, daily living support, and similar functions.

DISTINGUISHING ELEMENTS OF THE CLASS:

I.  IMPACT:  Activities of incumbent include assisting in the delivery of services, linking individuals to needed services, and promoting successful community living.  Work includes mental status observations and recommendations.  Knowledge and skills sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

II.  LATITUDE:  Routine work is performed both independently and with other team members.  Receives ongoing secondary supervision from the Peer Recovery Coordinator (PRC). Participates in individual and group supervision with PRC to address roles and responsibilities within program areas and individual impact.

III.  RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS:  None

IV.  INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:  The work of this class requires continuous contacts with individuals who have mental health and/or substance use conditions.  Supportive counseling is provided to the individuals.  In some instances interaction with professionals from other agencies or service providers may be necessary.  Incumbent may participate with a multi disciplinary team and/or initiate and maintain relationships in coordination with other staff, law-enforcement, hospital systems, other human service agencies, and with informal community resources.

V.  DIFFICULTY:  Appropriate relationships with a variety of individuals with mental health and/or substance use conditions, requiring use of judgment and discretion.  Incumbent will be assisting with individuals who have challenging behaviors which may result in unpredictable or emergency situations.

VI. COMMUNICATIONS:  Work involves oral communication with staff members, engaging and developing relationships with the target population and linking individuals to needed services.  The incumbent must have thorough knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of professional disciplines.

VII. EQUIPMENT/FACILITIES RESPONSIBILITY:  Incumbent frequently operates agency or personal vehicles to visit individuals and contact community resources and accompany individuals to various appointments and errands.  Incumbent will also carry and be responsible for agency-issued mobile telephone equipment.  Incumbent frequently uses a computer.

VIII:  WORKING CONDITIONS:  Work will be performed in locations where the target population is typically found.  Outside activities expose incumbent to elements of nature.  Incumbent may be subject to verbal outbursts and physical aggression by individuals served.  Work frequently involves traveling and visitation to client homes of varying sanitary and health (emotional and physical) conditions located in neighborhoods of varying security.

IX:  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA'S):

Ability to provide peer counseling from the perspective of a person who has received mental health services.

Skills in establishing supportive trusting relationships with persons with mental illness and respect for their rights and personal preferences.

Demonstrated comfort level with discussing experience as a consumer of mental health services in order to provide peer support to program individuals.

Knowledge of the mental health system, and community resources.

Familiarity with psychotropic medications.

Ability to interact in a professional manner with program participants, peers, and collateral agencies required.

Good oral and written communication skills required.

Must be detailed oriented, able to plan, prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.

Demonstrated ability to operate safely in the workplace, with experience in holding peers accountable to safety standards.

Ability to work autonomously and understand when a superior needs to be involved in decision making.

Good decision making skills, with the ability to analyze information, evaluate results, and implement the best solution to solve problems or challenges.

Self-motivated, with a dedication to keeping up to date technically, and applying new knowledge to your job.

Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.

Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem solving strategies to support individuals in self-directed recovery.

X.  LICENSURE:  Valid State Driver's License.

XI.  PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLASS:

Assist individuals in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one-to-one and group sessions. During these sessions the WPRS will support individuals in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.

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

Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Advance Directive to assist individuals in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.

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 individuals 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 and/or substance use services, the PRS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use.  As much as possible, the WPRS 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 individuals how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows group members and WPRS to share their experiences.  By using identified literature, media, etc. individuals will gain hope, learn to identify their strengths and combat negative self-talk.

Support individuals' 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 individuals in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.

Safeguard the confidentiality of individuals and records pertaining to individuals.

Requires excellent written and oral communication skills including proficiency with various agency sponsored software applications including Microsoft Office suite.

Complete agency documentation as required.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Transport individuals as necessary.

XII.  PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contacts as normally defined by the ability to see, hear, read, talk, handle or feel objects and controls.  Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment such as but not limited to personal computers, calculator, copier and fax machine.  Walking up and down stairs, pushing and lifting a wheelchair, lifting, moving and carrying boxes, office supplies, groceries, some climbing, bending, kneeling, crawling, reaching and handling, sitting, standing, pushing and pulling.  May be required to move individuals from one area to another.

 
Number of Openings 1  
Open Date 5/23/2016  
Close Date 8/12/2016  
Professional Licenses and/or Certifications  

This position is currently not accepting applications.

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