Peer Support

• Warren, PA, USA
• 15.56 per hour
• Hourly
• Part Time
• Comprehensive Benefits Package for full-time positions

*** $750 Commitment Bonus!! ***

Beacon Light Behavioral Health System is looking for a Part-time Peer Support Specialist to provide recovery oriented peer support services. The specialist will establish a trusting, respectful relationship with peers through the sharing of life experiences with mental illness or the mental health system. The primary responsibility of a peer specialist is to assist individuals identify and achieve their recovery goals, identify strengths and barriers in their mental health recovery, assist in developing recovery strategies and tools, and providing link to community resources. Peer Support is a program that provides individualized recovery-focused intervention to adults to enhance development of natural supports, coping mechanisms and other skills necessary to function as independently and successfully as possible in the community.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• • Be a self identified individual who is in recovery and who has received or is receiving state priority group services
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Have maintained, within the past three years, either:
  • • At least 12 months of successful full or part-time paid employment
    • At least 12 months of voluntary work experience
    • or one year of post-secondary education
  • Complete and pass a Certified Peer Specialist certification training program including written examination, which is offered in accordance with guidelines defined by OMHSAS, DPW.
  • • If considered for this position, BLBHS will assist in training coordination and cost associated with the training.
  • • If considered for this positions, BLBHS will assist in applying for and the payment of these clearances.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires an active driver's license and a DMV check that is clear. Position may require travel in the communities served or state of Pennsylvania for position requirements 25-50% of the time.

BENEFITS:

• Excellent Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Personal Days
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Plan
• Pet Insurance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (if you are eligible)
• Verizon Wireless Discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• And More!

For part-time:

• Retirement Plan
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (if you are eligible)
• Verizon Wireless Discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• And More!

Beacon Light is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Joint Commission accredited, and a Trauma Informed Care agency providing the best support to our clients and staff. Our Services and employment are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner, without regard to Race, Sex, Color, National Origin, Ancestry, Religious Creed, Disability and Age.

SUMMARY

TheCertified Peer Specialist is responsible for the management of an assignedcaseload of clientele for recovery oriented peer support services. The specialist will establish a trusting andrespectful working relationship with peers through the sharing of lifeexperiences with mental illness, the mental health system, drug and alcoholrecovery, and/or forensic history. Thiswill be done in coordination with the Certified Peer Support Supervisor (CPSS)by performing the following duties as outlined in this job description. The CertifiedPeer Specialist (CPS) will also works under the supervision of the Director ofa non-profit community based program. This position will develop andmaintain supportive relationships with persons served. Theserelationships are essential to establishing the individual's strengths andgoals; identifying barriers, recovery strategies and alternatives to makingchoices about medication and treatment; and providing links to communityresources. The primary responsibility of a certified peer specialist isto help individuals identify and achieve their recovery goals and meet theirspecific goals while assisting them in identifying and developing a naturalsupport system. The certified peer specialist may also facilitatesrecovery groups and participates in panel presentations to assist in educationof recovery principles. Certified Peer Specialist will also have theopportunity to further their training and education of recovery focused topicsand they will maintain departmental/agencies documentation and records.

QUALIFICATIONS

Toperform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform eachessential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representativeof the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations maybe made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentialfunctions. CPS must have access to or own a vehicle that will enable the employeeto carry out the duties assigned, including. Travel within the community and transporting consumers as it relates totheir recovery goals.

EDUCATIONand/or EXPERIENCE

1. Be a self identified individual who isin recovery and who has received or isreceiving state priority group services
2. Havea high school diploma or GED and can present documentation of completion ofeither
3. Havemaintained, within the past three years, at least 12 months of successful fullor part-time paid or voluntary work experience or one year of post secondaryeducation
4. Completedand passed a Certified Peer Specialist certification training program includingwritten examination, which is offered in accordance with guidelines defined byOMHSAS, DPW. If considered for this position, this agency will assist intraining coordination and cost.
5. Completeand pass PA Child Abuse, PA State Background, and FBI Background checks andclearances.
6. Completeand pass a physical and a drug screening arranged by this agency.

LANGUAGESKILLS

Ability toread, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professionaljournals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to document services provided. Havethe ability to effectively and professionally present information and respondto questions from individual and groups of managers, coworkers, consumers, andthe general public during meetings and with the work environment. Ability to effectively utilize a computer andcomputer programs designed to maintain client records and agency information. The individual must also possess and utilizeexcellent verbal and written communication skills along with the followingcharacteristics:

• Ability to self identify as having lived experience with mental health challenges who may also have drug and alcohol and/or a forensic history and be willing to share own recovery story where it is essential.
• Ability to listen effectively.
• Ability to problem solve, facilitate groups, work collaboratively with treatment team members and other staff.
• Ability to guide persons served in using recovery tools which promote individualized person-centered care.
• Ability to recognize and document skills developed and progress with persons served.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness and/or recovery relapse issues.
• Ability to maintain healthy boundaries and work parameters with peers, treatment teams, and staff.
• Knowledge of and skilled in the use of basic computer programs.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Abilityto work with mathematical concepts such as percentages and apply concepts suchas fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

Abilityto solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables insituations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret avariety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Thephysical demands described here are representative of those that must be met byan employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilitiesto perform the essential functions.

Whileperforming the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talkor hear. The employee frequently isrequired to sit. The employee isoccasionally required to stand, walk, escort clients to specified locations,and reach with hands and arms. Theemployee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other dutiesmay be assigned.

General Duties

Dutiesthe employee performs that although important do not have as major an impact onthe delivery of services to our consumers:

• Participating in weekly team meetings and/or supervision with your supervisor
• Interacting with consumer families and non-agency personnel with courtesy and in a professional manner.
• Knowing and supporting the agency mission, vision and value statement.
• Working as a member of a team including, being supportive and friendly to co-workers, keeping personal issues outside of the work environment, splitting duties equally amongst co-workers, assisting co-workers when requested and welcoming new employees giving then extra support and encouragement.
• Presenting as an appropriate role model for other staff and the individuals they serve in appearance, actions, manner of speech, etc.
• Actively participating on Agency committees when requested.
• Ensuring that incident reports are thoroughly completed and filed in a timely manner.
• Ensuring that the environments are safe for the individuals they serve including: stairways free of items, identified storage areas are locked, the unit free of clutter, spills are cleaned up as they occur, etc.
• Following through on directives given to him/her by their supervisor.
• Assisting with developing and monitoring quality initiatives including consumer surveys and program required Quality Assurance meetings.
• Completing reports or other written work (weekly work agendas, intake paperwork, goal plans, assessments, and progress notes) assigned in a timely and honest manner as outlined by the policies, procedures, and regulations for the Program Services Description.

Vital Duties

Dutiesthe employee performs that have a major impact on the delivery of services toour consumers:

• Complete appropriate designated intake paperwork and release forms in a timely manner so as to assist with prompt authorization, admission and billing.
• Documentation of encounters, important information, and data in a timely (within 24 to 72 hours of the service provided) and in a professional manner. Progress notes should adhere to the program regulations by ensuring that any client billable contact is related to the Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and provides a detailed description of the intervention provided, outcome of the appointment and plan for the next meeting including the scheduled date and time if known.
• Keep accurate case notes of every contact with participants as well as other members of the treatment team and outside entities. Will work with computer programs approved by Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems in order to submit and maintain consumer records to ensure that there are no duplicate notes/services or fraudulent activities/times of service entry being reported.
• Will have face-to-face contact, or documented attempt, with consumers at least once every week. Staff should make continued attempts (2-3 times) throughout the week in order to reach a consumer in order to schedule an appointment and document these attempts thoroughly in the event that the consumer is not attending scheduled appointments. Any issues with meeting with the consumers should be communicated directly to your supervisor so that the appropriate people can be contacted in order to ensure consumer safety. Furthermore, the specialist is required to maintain a billable productivity percentage of and attempt to have a goal of 70% of the overall time that is spent working directly in contact with consumers'. Appointments are primarily in the community.
• Assesses consumers, with the consumer's input, for the purpose of developing a Recovery Focused Individualized Service Plan. Emphasizes the consumer's strengths, goals, and interests.
• Complete Strength Based Assessments (SBA) with peer consumers in a timely manner so that Individualized Service Plans can be developed within the program regulated time periods. CPS will have them signed (30 days after intake and then within every 6 months).
• Periodically reviews the consumer's Individualized Service Plan with documented input from the consumer. Monitors implementation of the service plan on an ongoing basis.
• Provides services with the consumer that are directly related to the consumer's Individualized Service Plan.
• Maintains regular contact (with the consumer's consent) with family, friends, and other community members in order to develop and/or enhance the consumer's natural support network. Assists the consumer in locating and establishing ongoing relationships with individuals and services which are considered non-mental health resources.
• Assist peers in creating a WellnessRecovery Action Plan and Mental Health Advanced Directives (if so desired).
• Model effective coping techniques andself-help strategies.
• Teach peers how to identify and combatnegative self talk and how to identify and overcome fears or other obstacles torecovery through the use of recovery oriented interventions and the clinicalsupervision provided by the supervisor.
• Support vocational or volunteerchoices and help peers to overcome obstacles related to accessing services
• Use ?Recovery Principles? to helppeers meet the recovery goals reflected in the ISP; offering education,guidance, encouragement and support from a peer perspective.
• Participate in supervisory and staffmeetings as required.
• Maintain their certification throughcontinuing education requirements as outlined.
• Be willing to travel when required inthe performance of duties (staff meetings, supervision, consumer relatedactivities, trainings, etc). This wouldinclude covering other peer encounters if needed when other specialists are notavailable.
• Enhances consumer self-determination by functioning as his/her advocate, and by teaching the consumer, through role modeling, how to be a more effective advocate for himself/herself in the community.
• Maintains a caseload that supports the expected billable productivity for the position.
• Works a flexible schedule during the hours the program operation which is Monday through Friday between the hours of 8AM or 5PM or unless otherwise discusses and approved by a CPS supervisor or program director.
• Must have access to or own a vehicle which will enable worker to carry out the duties assigned which may include transporting consumers
• Maintains 18 hours of continuing education (12 of which must be recovery focused) and a high level of familiarity with DPW, OMHSAS and Peer Support regulations, objectives, etc., by attending relevant training, workshops, regional meetings, etc. that are designed to provide support to the CPS program and staff.
• Participates in individual face to face supervision consisting of at least one hour per week with the CPS Supervisor. At this time, the specialist will have all paperwork prepared to be turned into the medical records department, including any outstanding intake documents, signed and dated ISPs, and progress notes for their consumers. Additional supervisions may be necessary during the week to ensure proper CPS support
• Completion and updating of safety plans.
• Completion of all strength based comprehensive assessments in a timely manner so that ISPs can be completed by the supervisors with program regulations.
• Completion of any paperwork or information pertaining to the discharge of a consumer.
• Notifies supervisor when CPS is unable to attend a scheduled appointment with a peer. Attempts to reschedule this appointment in the same week or make arrangements with another CPS to cover this appointment in an attempt to maintain continuity of care.
• Attending and completing scheduled required annual training in order to meet both agency and regulation requirements of acquiring 18 hours of continuing education in which, 12 of these hours must be recovery focused.
• Attending and participating in case conferences when requested to do so.
• Engage and schedule encounters with peers (2-4 hours weekly appointments)
• Work with coworkers to gain knowledge of geographical resources and recovery focused supports available.
• Completion of 6 hours of supervised CPS activity with a peer as outlined in the program regulations.

• Encourages consumers to utilize Common Ground software in the Decision Support Center, as a recovery tool. Completes training in this model.
• Facilitates communication and collaboration of Common Ground with consumers and DSC staff.

PROBATIONEXPECTATIONS/COMPETENCIES

Mustdemonstrate during probation, first 90 days in position, and annually thereafter,competencies in the following areas:

1. Holds current Certified Peer Specialist Certification.
2. Working with the SMI population of consumers as well as IDD, and forensic (if trained).
3. Completingadmission paperwork including intake assessments as well as discharge paperwork.
4. TimeManagement Skills.
5. DocumentationSkills.
6. UnderstandingIndividualized Service Plans (ISP).
7. UnderstandingProgram Requirements and Description.
8. Abilityto Work Independently.
9. Teamwork.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Thework environment characteristics described here are representative of those anemployee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilitiesto perform the essential functions.

Whileperforming the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to consumersthat have an SMI or serious mental illness diagnosis, forensic populationand/or IDD or Intellectual Development Disability. Employment may also require exposure toclients who may be hiv-positive, have hepatitis or other communicable diseases.This job may also require CPS to be in home and/or environments where universalprecautions should be taken as they may have issues with insect infestation. Itis at the discretion and advises that each CPS evaluate these situations and usestheir best judgment as to when it is appropriate to decline to enter anindividual's home/environment if these concerns become supported with validevidence. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS

Staffare expected to:

1. Preservethe positive public image of the agency and its staff.
2. Befamiliar with Agency's Policy and Procedure Manuals and function within thedirectives provided.
3. Beaware of and follow state regulations.
4. Reportto administrative staff any situation that interferes with proper operation ofthe agency.
5. Reportto administrative staff any actions by another employee which may constitutepossible emotional or physical abuse.
6. Maintaina confidential attitude in regards information pertaining to the individuals weserve.
7. Maintainhigh clinical quality and a safe environment within the Agency.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Thisposition requires participation in ongoing mandatory trainings whileemployed. Training requirements aredetailed in the Training Matrix which is maintained by the Human ResourcesDepartment. Along with their supervisor,each staff person is responsible for reviewing the Training Matrix to determineindividual training requirements and completing those requirements in a timelymanner.

External Training Requirements

• CertifiedPeer Specialist Training.
• Thisposition requires that staff obtain 18 hours of additional training eachcalendar year. Twelve (12) of thesehours must be training solely focused on recovery and recovery basedprinciples. Staff members areresponsible for finding these trainings, registering for them, and obtainingand submitting certificates of attendance and off-campus training records inorder to verify training participation in accordance with OMHSAS regulations. If these continuing education trainings arenot completed within the calendar year, the specialist will lose certificationand will terminated from the agency as they no longer qualify for the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Thisposition does not directly supervise any other positions.

PHYSICAL/HEALTHASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

Thisposition is required to have a pre-employment physical.