Certified Peer Support Specialist

Benefits:

• Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401K Plan
• Paid Holidays plus 1 Floating Holiday
• Paid Sick Time
• 2 weeks Paid Vacation Time

Statement of Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Program Director/Supervisor, the Certified Peer Support Specialist utilizes their experiences as a recipient of mental health and/or SUD treatment services to enhance the recovery efforts of clients while serving as a member of a multidisciplinary team that shares practical and personal experience, knowledge and insight related to illness management, life skills, and the lifelong process of recovery.

Major Tasks, Duties, and Responsibilities

• Aids patients in becoming accustomed to program routine, including but not limited to orientation of new patients.

• Monitor patient activities and complete scheduled rounds, patient checks, etc. to ensure safety, support program compliance, and support treatment progress.

• Support with patient intake, treatment, and discharge processes, including developing peer plan of care, charting and filing documentation, and supporting with data entry as needed.

• Perform toxicology testing, take and record vitals as needed, chart relevant information

• Accompany patients to activities inside the program or in the community, including but limited to serving as support when a patient has an appointment off premises, and document accordingly.

• Provides engagement and outreach to current or potential clients, and families in the community.

• Provides expertise from personal experience in the areas of substance abuse and co-occurring disorders recovery to patients served and interdisciplinary team

• Completes all charting and documentation as contractually required and in a timely manner as dictated by program requirements.

• Serves as a mentor to clients, and families to promote empowerment and hope, and while drawing on own experiences as a consumer to build trust and commonality provides peer counseling and support.

• Promotes a team culture characterized by openness to clients’ experiences and encouragement of self-determination throughout the treatment planning process.

• Provides education, skill-building, engagement, and support to clients, and family members if involved in treatment, within scope of practice.

• Serves as a liaison between the team and consumer-run programs and encourages clients’ use of these.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, including but not limited to DMH, DHCS, SAPC, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, CARF, etc.

• Respond to behavioral crises, medical emergencies, suicidal ideation, overdose including administration of anti-overdose medications as needed, or acute intoxication safely, within scope of practice

• Report and record any changes observed in client condition or behavior, including unusual incidents. Identify, report, and assist with the management of emergencies.

• Participate in safety programming to promote client and staff safety. Maintain health and safety standards of facility.

• Participate in treatment team meetings, case conferences, and program planning.

• Contribute to agency quality assurance and improvement initiatives.

• Maintain professional boundaries and standards. Treat clients with respect, care, and concern. Comply with confidentiality requirements at all times.

• Maintain familiarity with BHS policies and procedures and other applicable regulations; perform job duties accordingly. Represent BHS well in all contacts.

• Courteously answer phones, appropriately directing calls and taking messages. Facilitate client external communication as approved by supervisor.

• Attend meetings and trainings, and participate in committees as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned.

Certified Peer Support Specialist Competencies and Performance Expectations

• Ability to complete the above major tasks, duties and responsibilities

• Ability to demonstrate professional judgment and decision-making, including ability to recognize and seek out supervision and/or consultation when required

• Ability to meet productivity standards as assigned

• Ability to build collaborative partnerships with self-help groups, consumer-run programs, and/or other community partnerships which may benefit client treatment

• Ability to demonstrate familiarity with core competencies and code of ethics for peer support specialists as defined by CalMHSA

• Ability to effectively document in required note structures (e.g., PIN, etc.)

• Ability to recognize the symptoms of and appropriately support in the treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders (i.e., mental health, medical health, etc.) within scope of practice.

• Ability to identify and respond appropriately to a crisis within scope of practice including but not limited to overdose, behavioral challenges, contraband protocol, emergency codes, etc.

• Ability to recognize personal biases within diverse populations, and maintain boundaries between personal/lived experience and professional duties. Maintain cultural sensitivity at all times.

• Ability to adhere to professional standards