Peer Specialist, Part Time

AltaPointe Health Systems; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

AltaPointe Health Systems is seeking a Peer Specialist to support adults in residential services in Daphne, AL. The role emphasizes social interaction, recovery-oriented activities, and advocacy for consumers in a residential setting.

Responsibilities include facilitating group activities, coordinating community resources, and documenting care. Candidate should have a high school diploma or equivalent, and willingness to obtain peer certification; a valid driver’s license and reliable

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for at least 1 year.
• Valid driver's license with good driving record and reliable transportation.
• Willingness to attend out-of-town Peer Specialist training for certification.
• Experience within Alabama public mental health system preferred.
• Knowledge of adult competencies to be attained within six months.

Responsibilities

• Provide social interaction individually and in groups to develop social skills.
• Promote recovery-oriented skills to support treatment goals.
• Establish community linkages and resource utilization.
• Support consumer empowerment and self-advocacy.
• Assist staff and consumers in understanding recovery processes.
• Serve as a role model for recovery in daily activities.
• Plan and participate in recreational activities with consumers.
• Facilitate community meetings and peer support groups.
• Document interactions timely and clearly per AltaPointe policy.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in performance improvement efforts.

Skills

Social interaction

Recovery-oriented skills

Advocacy

Community linkages

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

EastPointe Hospital (7400 Roper Ln; Daphne, AL 36526)

AltaPointe’s Adult Residential Services are designed for consumers with serious and persistent mental illness who require social rehabilitation and community support. Combining medical, nursing and clinical services, our staff provides care and treatment for more than 200 adults in need of intensive service provision. The Adult Residential Services Program consists of group homes, which are supervised 24 hours/day when consumers are on the premises. Expected outcomes are the same for each adult group home to prevent re-hospitalization and to maximize and maintain successful community placement. Residential care focuses on the rehabilitation and return to the community of seriously mentally ill consumers.

Peer Specialist are responsible for providing social interaction on a group and individual basis with residential consumers, promoted recovery-oriented activities, assisting consumers in developing advocacy skills, and assisting staff and consumers in understanding the recovery process.

Essential Functions

• Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social skills and to help consumers develop insight into their mental illness
• Promotes recovery-oriented skills to help achieve goals created in the treatment plan
• Establish linkages that result in the consumer’s active use of resources in the community
• Assist consumers in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of consumer when needed
• Assists staff and consumers in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
• Serve as a role model to help staff in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
• Works with recreation staff to plan and implement recreational activities for consumers
• Conducts community meetings with consumers in each assigned group home
• Conducts peer support groups for adult day treatment programs
• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents legibly and in a clear and concise manner
• Documents individualized consumer responses to services provided
• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance skills
• Attends and participates in staff meetings as required
• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
• Attends appropriate in-services training and other workshops

Physical Requirements

• There is frequent standing, sitting, and walking which are in bursts of 5 to 10 minutes. However, there are times when this can be extended to pacing with the consumer (time could be undetermined), and at times sitting and standing can be extended with the employee having the ability to change positions as permitted by the observance and behavior of the consumer at that time.
• Lift up to 15 pounds occasionally during shift.
• Strong grasp is needed to use keys to open doors throughout the facility
• Pushing/pulling force up to 25 pounds occasionally during a shift.
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Physical Requirements are subject to change with notice.

High school diploma or its equivalent; must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for no less than one (1) year; ability to identify as a consumer of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment; a valid, verifiable driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation and verifiable vehicle liability insurance; ability to attend out-of-town Peer Specialist training for certification; demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system; knowledge of adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices.
• Knowledge of Psychiatric Rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders