Youth Peer Specialist (Part-Time)

AltaPointe Health Systems; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

AltaPointe Health is seeking a Peer Specialist to support children and adolescents within the outpatient services. You will participate in treatment teams, facilitate peer groups, and help youths engage with community resources.

Requirements include a high school diploma and being a current or former recipient of mental health services. Travel and driving are expected to support outreach and client engagement.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for at least one year before age 21.
• Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and discuss personal diagnosis.

Responsibilities

• Participates in one-on-one and treatment team meetings to discuss ideas and expectations.
• Provides social interaction to develop skills and insight into mental illness.
• Promotes recovery-oriented skills to achieve goals in the treatment plan.
• Establish links to community resources for participants.
• Assist participants in developing empowerment and self-advocacy skills.

Skills

Peer support

Communication with multi-disciplinary

Recovery-oriented approach

Crisis intervention knowledge

Cultural diversity awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

AltaPointe Health is hosting Open Interviews on Thursday, August 27th from 1000AM-200PM. This event will take place at EastPointe Hospital (7400 Roper Ln; Daphne, AL 36526). Please make sure your application is updated prior to this event. When you arrive you will be able to interview with a Recruiter who can talk about all our open positions. - AltaPointe Recruitment Team

Children's Outpatient Services provides treatment for children and adolescents and their families and is intended to improve and maintain a child’s or an adolescent’s stability in the community. Treatment focuses on problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Services include individual, family and group therapy, medication evaluation and management, case management, in home intervention, case consultation and summer day treatment services. The type of treatment is highly variable and depends upon the individual’s existing symptoms and developmental level.

Primary Job Functions

• Participates in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectations
• Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social and recreational skills and to help participants 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 participant’s active use of resources in the community
• Assist participants in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of participant when needed
• Assists staff and participants 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
• Plans and conducts peer support groups focusing on topics related to recovery
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Clincal Record Keeping

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents legibly and in a clear and concise manner
• Documents individualized participant responses to services provided

Supervision and Consultation

• 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

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards participants, visitors and co-workers

• Treats participants with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects participant’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists participants and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the participant’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with participants and families

Administrative and Other Related Duties Assigned

• 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

High school diploma or its equivalent

Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services with a DSM-5 diagnosis, for no less that one year before the age of 21.

Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment

A valid driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation and verifiable vehicle liability insurance

Ability to attend DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification; demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system

Knowledge of youth/young adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the youth/young adult population
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic participants, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices.
• Knowledge of a recovery-oriented treatment approach
• Ability to communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to connect to youth/young adults and share skills and knowledge with others