Peer Support Specialist - Women's Resource Center

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah's mission is to provide community-supported pathways for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness.

We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist acts as a liaison to women experiencing homelessness staying at the Women's Resource Center by assisting them in accepting and participating in mental health, substance use and other treatments with the objective of promoting stabilization within the resource center and towards securing housing.

Essential Duties:

• Maintain an active caseload
• Provide peer counseling and consultation to individual clients as well as in a group setting
• Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living
• Support moveout preparations with clients moving into housing by providing support and guidance before and during their transition out of shelter
• Facilitate orientations for clients that are new to the facility
• Supervise weekly client "Clean Team" groups and other client initiatives as directed by Client Services Manager
• Participate in weekly organizational meetings
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner
• Attends work on a regular and predictable basis

Non-Essential Duties:

• Maintain good professional relationships with appropriate community figures, referral sources, and other professionals.
• Maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge through attending conferences/ workshops/courses and reading professional materials that are relevant to job requirements and approved by the Client Services Manager.
• Demonstrate familiarity with and adherence to Utah laws regarding confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Conduct professional life in accordance with the standards of his/her discipline and the clinical policies and procedures of the agency.
• Performs other functions as necessary or assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Direct lived experience with homelessness, mental illness and/ or substance use and basic knowledge of community resources which provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Certification in Utah as a Peer Support Specialist is required and work experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders or any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Direct experience with homelessness, mental illness and/ or substance use disorders and demonstrates a level of recovery sufficient to manage their illness and function independently.
• Active Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute own work to ensure completion of daily tasks.
• Familiarity with Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing and Housing First philosophies and willingness to incorporate them in your daily work.
• Ability to remain calm and respond appropriately…