Peer Support Specialist - Certified

Volunteers of America, Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

HSA contribution

403b retirement plan with employer 50%

EAP

Paid time off

Life insurance

Referral program

Job summary

Volunteers of America, Utah is seeking a Case Manager/Peer Support Specialist to deliver individualized supportive case management for clients with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The role emphasizes recovery, housing access, and symptom management, with services provided at home, shelter, or in the community.

Must be CPSS in Utah and at least 21 years old. Schedule includes weekends and a full-time, non-exempt arrangement.

Qualifications

• Must have personal experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders and demonstrate recovery.
• Certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in Utah is required.
• GED or high school diploma is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer counseling and consultation to clients, families, and team staff.
• Assess service needs and coordinate access to necessary services.
• Apply for, acquire, and maintain long-term benefits for clients.
• Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, and problem solving to help clients daily living.

Skills

Rapport building

Communication

Crisis intervention

Education

GED or high school diploma

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Description

Pay: $20 / hr

Schedule: Full time, non-exempt

Benefits:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• $1,200 annual employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly).
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person's life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Volunteers of America, Utah's Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a "hospital without walls" model. ACT uses a multidisciplinary team approach to provide intensive, integrated services where and when our clients need them—in their homes, at work and in other community settings. Volunteers of America, Utah's ACT Team members directly provide services that are individually tailored with each client and address their specific preferences and goals. The approach with each client emphasizes the relationship building and active involvement in assisting clients to make improvements in functioning, to better manage symptoms, to achieve individual goals and to maintain optimism.

The Case Manager/Peer Support Specialist provides individualized supportive case management to agency clients with the goals of 1) assisting clients to achieve or maintain stability and independence; 2) providing assistance accessing resources to help clients meet their housing and other needs; and 3) providing expertise about the recovery process and symptom management. This position provides care to severely and persistently mentally ill clients in an outpatient community setting. Must be a Certified Peer Support Specialist. Work schedule will include weekends.

Essential Duties

• Provide peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families, and team staff.
• Assess service needs and coordinate access to necessary services.
• Apply for, acquire, and maintain long-term benefits for clients.
• Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualize support, problem solving, direct assistance training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living.
• Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
• Complete documentation and meet minimum service time based on ACT requirements.
• Visit clients in their homes.
• Provide on-call crisis intervention.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Personal experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders and demonstrates a level of recovery sufficient to manage their illness and function independently
• Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in Utah
• GED or high school diploma
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheets
• Ability to build rapport with clients and engage them in case management.
• Experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder preferred
• Working knowledge/experience collaborating with community resources.
• Ability to maintain a calm demeanor working with potentially high distress population.
• Work is performed inside and outside of an office environment; must have the ability to climb stairs, enter client homes, as well as deliver services in shelter, on the street, etc.
• Must pass pre-employment drug test.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver's license, have a good driving record and be insurable on the agency liability policy.
• Must pass Utah DHHS - Office of Licensing background screening for those working with vulnerable populations and maintain "Eligible" Determination through continuous background monitoring/Rap back enrollment.