Mental Health Peer Specialist

Pay starting from $19.50, commensurate with experience and education. Job Type: Full Time (40 hours per week)

The Peer Specialist provides direct services to clients and will work closely with other treatment team members to ensure clients are engaged in their treatment and feel supported throughout the process. Services are client centered services with a rehabilitation and recovery focus designed to promote skills for coping with and managing symptoms while facilitating the utilization of natural resources and the enhancement of community living skills.

PS is a face-to-face intervention with the client with contacts occurring in community locations where the person lives, works, attends school, and/or socializes.

• Provide face to face services for clients receiving outpatient mental health and/or substance use disorder services drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to actively participate in their own treatment and recovery.
• Work with clients on skill building, promoting positive relationships and connections to resources in the community.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to promote a culture in which each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
• The Peer Specialist will help clients identify, understand, and combat stigma associated with mental illness and substance use and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
• Mentoring and goal setting with clients.
• Serve as a co-facilitator in recovery groups.
• Adherence with HIPAA and confidentiality and obtain necessary documentation to satisfy requirements to coordinate care among treatment and service providers.
• Ability to develop effective, professional relationships and boundaries with clients and families.
• Demonstrates knowledge of trauma informed care.
• Helping the client to develop a network for information and support within their communities.
• Assisting clients with regaining the ability to make independent choices and to take a proactive role in treatment.
• Assisting the client with identifying and effectively responding to or avoiding identified precursors or triggers that result in functional impairments.
• Completion of service notes in the electronic health record in accordance with documentation standards and timelines.
• Provide after-hours on-call coverage as a member of the mobile crisis response team approximately four (4) times per year.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Requires sitting for extended periods of time. Occasional bending, stretching, or lifting. May require contact with individuals with communicable diseases. Requires the ability to work under high stress conditions for extended periods. Ability to hear normal range of voice. Ability to prepare written reports and use telephone equipment. Requires computer keyboard/monitor work. Requires prolonged data entry and viewing monitor for extended periods.

Regularly travel and transport clients in and around Cherokee county

Normal office environment. Occasional exposure to communicable diseases and other conditions in a clinic environment. Occasional exposure to aggressive or violent patients.

• Must be at least 21 years old and have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. A minimum of one (1) year of experience in a position of similar scope strongly preferred.
• Complete the State of Kansas required steps and training as outlined by KDADS for certification as a Kansas Certified Peer Mentor and Kansas Certified Peer Specialist.
• Self-identify to have had life experience with a diagnosed mental health disorder and be in sustained and continued recovery for a minimum of one year.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, models, and competencies of Peer Support.
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen, all required background checks, possess a valid driver’s license, and acceptable driving record for insurability and transportation of clients in agency vehicle.

403(b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
Paid Time Off
8 Company Paid Holidays
Employee Fitness Center Membership
Health Insurance
Life & Disability Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Employee Assistance Program
Professional Development Assistance