Certified Peer Specialist - Adult Outpatient Program

Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority, Inc; Montgomery, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority, Inc. is seeking a Certified Peer Specialist for the Adult Outpatient Program. The role leverages lived experience with mental illness or substance use disorder to support consumers in achieving recovery goals and self-direction.

The position involves sharing recovery stories, promoting self-advocacy, and assisting with planning and accessing community resources. Requires ADMH certification training within 90 days and a HS diploma or GED.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience with Serious Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder recovery.
• Must complete and pass ADMH Certified Peer Specialist training within 90 days of hire.
• Must have a High School Diploma, or GED/ Equivalent.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Driving record acceptable to the insurer and liability coverage on personal vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Share personal recovery story to assist consumers in their recovery journey.
• Promote self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy and self-direction; help individuals set goals and identify barriers.
• Assist in goal planning and development of recovery plans with individuals.
• Help individuals learn to request appropriate services in the community.
• Engage individuals with other programs and services to encourage recovery.
• Provide education to team members to enhance understanding of peer support roles.
• Attend required meetings, trainings, and other agency events.

Skills

Lived experience in recovery journey

Recovery storytelling

Reliable transportation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Valid driver's license

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:Certified Peer Specialist – Adult Outpatient Program (AOP)

CLASSIFICATION:Mental Health Support Worker I

HOURLY PAY RANGE:$12.00 - $18.26

SUPERVISOR:Adult Outpatient Director

DEFINITION

A Certified Peer Specialist in the Adult Outpatient Program utilizes their lived experience with Serious Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder by sharing their recovery journey to serve as a support agent for individuals in the program. Employees in this position are responsible for supporting consumers in their goals individually and as a team with consumers, promoting self-determination and recovery, and modeling self-advocacy skills.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Share your personal story to assist consumers in their recovery journey.
• Promote self-determination, recover, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assist individuals in identifying strengths, wellness goals, setting objectives, and identifying barriers.
• Assist the individual in goal planning and participate with the individual in the development of their recovery plan.
• Assist the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in the community.
• Engage individuals in other programs and services to encourage recovery.
• Teach wellness management strategies and help individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in the workplace and in their personal lives; use manualized strategies such as (IMR/ Illness Management and Recovery, WMR/Wellness Management and Recovery, WRAP/Well Recovery Action Planning), and others.
• Connect to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolations.
• Provide education to other team providers to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, and integrated into service delivery.
• Encourage consumers to identify goals and create action plans in tandem with the treatment team to reach them.
• Foster hope and approach the individual’s skills from a strengths-based perspective.
• Practice culturally responsive communication and interaction with individuals and their families and/or natural supports.
• Act as a resource and safe person for consumers to approach with questions, concerns, and accomplishments.
• Facilitate trainings and groups as scheduled and requested.
• Attend staff and agency meetings, trainings, and other events as scheduled and approved by supervisor.
• Provide follow-up to individuals who accessed the crisis response system and/or the Crisis Center.
• Seek supervision and consultation as needed.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follow Carastar Health’s policies and procedures.
• Attend required meetings, in-service trainings, and other workshops.
• Maintain confidential files containing required information for each supported employment consumer.
• Maintain documentation for individuals receiving services.
• Provide timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid, and others.
• Treat consumers with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the consumer’s needs, expectations, and individual differences.
• Remain gentle and calm with consumers and families.
• Actively participate in Performance Improvement activities.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Actively participate in Carastar Health committees as required.
• Follow Carastar Health policies and procedures.
• Attend required in-service training and other workshops.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS

• Reliable transportation and willingness to transport clients.
• Treat consumers with care, dignity, and compassion
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the clients’ needs, expectations, and differences.
• Remain gentle and calm all need to be under requirements.
• Certification through Department of Mental Health as a Certified Peer Specialist.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have lived experience with Serious Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder recovery and be willing to share your recovery story with consumers.
• Must complete and pass ADMH Certified Peer Specialist training within 90 days of hire.
• Must have a High School Diploma, or GED/ Equivalent.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Must maintain a driving record that is acceptable to the Carastar's insurance carrier.
• Must maintain at least liability coverage on personal vehicles.
• Must maintain current CPI and Red Cross First Aid/CPR certifications.