The Lodge is an innovative, supportive environment for individuals experiencing homelessness. Peer Support Specialists utilize their lived experience and motivational interviewing to build strong relationships and encourage acceptance of services.
Peer Support Specialist I is the entry-level classification in this series and is responsible for providing peer-to-peer support services including: monitoring, informing, supporting, assisting, and empowering clients and their family members/caregivers who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services; developing and coordinating activities, programs, and resources which directly support clients and family members/caregivers in achieving wellness and recovery-oriented goals; facilitating peer-to-peer assistance as part of a team setting; conducting outreach to clients, family members/caregivers, and the community; and acting in a liaison role between clients, family members/caregivers, and community service providers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provides peer support and self-help services to behavioral health clients and their family members/caregivers in individual or group settings on-site in county programs as well as in the community.
- Under the direction of clinical/supervisory staff, assists in coordinating clinical services, provides linkage to other services and resources, monitors, supports, assists, and empowers clients and family members/caregivers who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
- Assists the Department in gathering client and family member/caregiver perspectives and ensuring they are considered in policy and program development.
- Assists in the development and coordination of activities, programs, and resources which support clients and family members/caregivers in achieving wellness and recovery goals such as self-help and peer-led groups.
- Provides skill training to clients and family members/caregivers on tasks related to recovery-focused independent living such as self-empowerment, self-responsibility, public transportation, housing applications, interviews, shopping, etc. Serves as a role model for recovery.
- Assists and advocates for clients and family members/caregivers as they navigate through the system of care including: assisting with referral follow-through; transition to different levels of care; providing information on support resources; facilitating and encouraging family member/caregiver involvement as appropriate.
- Prepares and supports clients and family members/caregivers in a variety of client and family-centered activities such as case consultation/staff meetings, hearings, interviews, completion of satisfaction surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder input opportunities.
- Documents activities in accordance with Department and program requirements.
- Supports clients’ vocational choices and assists them in stress management and other symptoms related to all facets of employment.
- Works as part of the treatment team including: participating in meetings; encouraging and supporting clients and family members/caregivers in understanding, adhering to, and progressing in the treatment plan; evaluating their responses; outreaching; and empowering them to communicate openly and directly with treatment providers.
- Greets and welcomes clients and family members/caregivers upon arrival to programs/offices.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Lived experience with homelessness, substance use disorders, or mental health disorders;
- Basic recovery and wellness concepts and behavioral health services;
- Obstacles related to accessing services and strategies to navigate and overcome barriers;
- Basic office procedures and practices including computer usage;
- Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation;
- Basic record-keeping practices;
- Ability to operate a computer in the completion of assignments;
- Understand and follow oral and written instructions;
- Effectively educate and assist client family members/caregivers within the behavioral health system and community;
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing with people of various educational, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds;
- Work effectively in stressful, emotional, and confrontational situations and as part of a multidisciplinary team;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels as well as with other agencies and the public;
- Maintain confidentiality of all information;
- Display and maintain a high degree of maturity, integrity, and good judgment.
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