Youth Peer Specialist (Part-Time)

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

Job summary

AltaPointe Health seeks a dedicated Peer Specialist to support children, adolescents, and families in outpatient services. You will engage participants in individual and group settings, promote recovery, and connect youth to community resources.

The role emphasizes advocacy, empathy, and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. Required are a high school diploma or equivalent, and eligibility for DMH-approved peer certification.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services with a DSM-5 diagnosis for at least one year before age 21.
• Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and discuss personal diagnosis.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record and reliable transportation.
• Willingness to pursue DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification.
• Experience with Alabama public mental health system and youth competencies.

Responsibilities

• Participate in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas and expectations.
• Provide social interaction to develop social and recreational skills and insights.
• Promote recovery-oriented skills to achieve treatment plan goals.
• Establish community linkages for participants to access resources.
• Assist participants in developing empowerment and self-advocacy skills.
• Support staff and participants in understanding recovery and rehabilitation.
• Lead peer support groups on topics related to recovery.
• Complete administrative duties and follow policies as required.

Skills

Empathy

Effective communication

Crisis intervention knowledge

Recovery-oriented care

Cultural diversity awareness

Youth/young adult engagement

Education

High school diploma or its equivalent

DMH-approved Peer Specialist training eligibility

Experience with Alabama public mental health system

Tools

DMH peer training resources

Job description

Overview

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.

Responsibilities

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

Qualifications

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, 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