IPS Peer Specialist

Supported Employment Program - Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Pathway & Community

Full-Time (Monday - Thursday, 7:30am - 5:00pm & 8:00am - 12:00pm)

Tuscaloosa, AL -

• Support recipients of IPS-SEP in their goals of obtaining employment.
• Attending meetings with recipients, promoting self-determination and recovery, and modeling self-advocacy skills.
• Attend treatment team meetings with the individual to promote the individual's use of self-directed advocacy tools.
• Assist the recipient in goal planning and assist in the development of career profiles.
• Assist the recipient in learning how to ask for and access appropriate services in the community.
• Assist the recipient in obtaining information about their benefits (SSI/Supplemental Security Income, SSDI/Social Security Disability Income, Medicaid, etc.).
• Engage recipients in other programs and services to encourage employment.
• Model self-advocacy skills for addressing disclosure issues or requesting job accommodations.
• Educate on wellness management strategies and help recipients develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in the workplace and in their personal lives.
• Provide education to other team providers to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which a recipient's points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, and integrated into service delivery.
• Provide resources and teach transportation skills (teaching bus routes, etc.) for work.
• Share your personal story to model how to choose, obtain, and keep employment.
• Support recipients in making informed decisions about supported employment and building community connections.
• Build social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Assist in overcoming barriers to employment and addressing workplace challenges.
• Assist in obtaining the proper documentation necessary to obtain employment.
• Research, with the recipient, businesses and/or industries in which the person may be interested.
• Assist the recipients in completing applications, resumes, cover letters, etc.
• Explore career and educational aspirations with the recipients.
• Assist in teaching skills related to job‑seeking, such as using the computer.
• Attending recovery support groups and (NA/Narcotic Anonymous and AA/Alcoholic Anonymous) meetings with the job seeker, if appropriate.
• Assist with financial wellness tools for money management and asset development.
• Provide outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from the IPS Supported Employment Program.
• Seek supervision and consultation as needed.
• Treat recipients with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Accept and employ suggestions for improvement.
• Educate new recipients regarding the services available to them as well as the recovery process.
• Utilize and teach problem‑solving techniques with recipients.
• Assist recipients in maintaining self‑care needs.
• Develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship with recipients so that they can identify emotional, psychiatric or behavioral changes which may require further intervention or treatment. The CPS will help the recipient resolve the problem, and/or refer the recipient to the appropriate clinical staff.
• Teach recipients how to identify and combat negative self‑talk and overcome fears.
• Attend and provide input in staff meetings and interdisciplinary treatment planning.
• Document appropriate information in recipient's records promptly and accurately.
• Model for recipients, good communication skills,…