Peer Engagement Specialist

Trilogy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Trilogy in Chicago seeks a Peer Engagement Specialist to assess clients' personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental needs and plan treatment through home, community, and office visits. You will provide strengths-based, trauma-informed support using harm reduction and motivational interviewing.

With lived experience, you will engage clients experiencing homelessness, link to community resources, and document progress according to Trilogy’s standards, aiming to improve recovery

Qualifications

• Experience applying motivational interviewing.
• Knowledge of harm reduction approaches.
• Trauma-informed care principles in client services.

Responsibilities

• Assess clients’ personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental needs through home, community, and office visits.
• Provide strengths-based, trauma-informed support to aid recovery from substance use and mental health issues.
• Link clients to community services and referrals for additional resources.
• Engage clients using lived experience to build relationships with those experiencing homelessness.
• Document progress and requirements per Trilogy’s standards.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Harm reduction

Trauma-informed care

Advocacy

Community referrals

Job description

Pay Range: $22.89 - $26.32/hr

Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, 7am - 3:30pm

8541 S State St. Chicago IL 60619

The Peer Engagement Specialist will assess the client’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation to plan for treatment course through home, community, and office (drop-in center) visits. They will provide individually based motivational mentoring and support to clients to assist them in their recovery from substance use and mental health issues. The Peer Engagement Specialist will be an advocate for clients and link them to community services and referrals for additional resources as needed. They will provide client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed services to clients with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues utilizing a harm reduction approach. The Peer Engagement Specialist will utilize their own lived experience to build relationships and engagement with clients that are experiencing homelessness, not engaged in more traditional forms of treatment, and bring support to them in the community.

• Assess client’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation through home, community, and office visits.
• Implement assertive engagement strategies with potential clients to bring them into services and assist with linkage to needed treatment.
• Provide community referrals to agencies that can support the needs of clients with a holistic approach such as linkage to PCP, benefits, food pantries, clothing closets, employment, substance use treatment and recovery groups, housing, etc and collaborate with community providers involved in the client’s care.
• Model good communication skills, recovery-oriented living skills, effective coping skills, and self-help strategies
• Actively participate in Peer Support meetings and activities to gain additional support in position.
• Aware of individual signs of burnout/feeling overwhelmed and knows how to get and provide support.
• Acquire a CRSS credential within 18 months of hire
• Provide training and education to clients and community members to increase knowledge of substance use and mental health issues and available resources.
• Conduct outreach visits to people experiencing homelessness such as under viaducts, in encampments, shelters, parks etc.
• Complete daily progress notes based on services provided to clients in a timely manner reflected in Trilogy’s documentation standards
• Complete all necessary documentation related to client care and requirements for the CORS grant.
• Recognize and act on opportunities to move clients to appropriate levels of care; provide referrals to additional services as indicated.
• Assist clients in identifying signs and symptoms of de-compensation, assess for crisis situations and or the need for stabilization through hospitalization. Work collaboratively with clients to identify coping skills to assist in managing symptoms and stressors experienced.
• Utilize motivational interviewing to engage and support clients in their substance use while recognizing stages of change.
• Assist clients in learning and improving independent living skills; i.e. personal hygiene, housekeeping skills, nutrition, and shopping for food and personal items
• Educate and assist