Peer Support Specialist

Overview

The Peer Support Worker is responsible for providing guidance to individuals and families within the community. The PSW will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to individuals and families that have experienced a history of trauma, violence, and mental health issues. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of how to engage with as well as experience working with individuals living with mental/behavioral health conditions.

They will be responsible for assisting clients in the justice system via social outreach. The success of this role comes from being compassionate, non-judgmental, having a sense of acceptance, and creating a genuine connection with the clients in which Self Theory serves.

• Provide on and off-site, telephone support, and mobile crises intervention services to clients and families that are experiencing mental and behavioral health issues.
• Advocate for family members and clients as they look for ways to navigate through the journey of their family member.
• Lived experience with recovery, incarceration, violence, and substance abuse disorders.
• Speak and give real life situations as they relate to what the client and the family may be experiencing
• Collaborate with Clinical Director, Case Manager, and other mental health professionals on additional services offered, referrals to other agencies, and the arrays of de-escalation techniques
• Maintain and Record notes as related to the client and their progress
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director
• Educate clients and families on the development of peer-to-peer relationships.
• Engage in outreach programs, referral response, and comforting hand-offs concerning individuals released from detention centers, jails, prison, or may have a history of convictions.
• Able to be on-call 24 hours during given rotation periods (Mobile Crisis Intervention Team)
• Refer and follow up with Re-entry coach to assess the needs of the client
• Assist Clients in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends, and/or significant others.

• Able to demonstrate the ability to serve underserved communities, underrepresented and vulnerable populations, including social, gender based, racial, and ethnic minorities living with mental illness, or a history of violence.
• Able to exhibit compassion, sensitivity, and empathy in regard to human rights, human service, and display a non-judgmental attitude towards all individuals involved.
• Ability to use skills, trainings, and an innovative approach when it comes to programming, treatment plans, and development of support when servicing clients at Self Theory
• Excellent verbal and written skills as note taking a necessity. The ability to communicate effectively and think with an open mind to aid clients and work in a team setting.
• Basic computer and data entry skills

• High School Diploma, GED, or high school equivalency diploma
• Minimum of 1 year experience coaching and counseling individuals who have been either incarcerated, have a history of substance abuse, and or violent crimes
• Experience in social work, mental health, criminal justice, or a related field
• Firsthand/lived experience
• Certification as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is a plus
• Bilingual is a plus