GATEWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC.

PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST – HOSPITALS

POSITION OBJECTIVES

The PSS position provides non-clinical, evidenced-based support services within different programs by performing tasks designed to assist patients in wellness and recovery to promote self-advocacy. Serve as a member of the patient’s recovery support team, as an advocate and functions as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal lived-experience recovery and the use of life and coping skills. The Peer Support Specialist’s responsibility is to establish rapport with patients as well as to teach, lead, and mentor patients to reach their personal wellness and recovery goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides peer support services at dedicated job location and in community-based settings.
• Advocate for the patient to promote individual choice and self-determination, while developing self-advocacy skills.
• Demonstrate healthy boundaries and behaviors expected of a person in recovery.
• Establish and maintain an effective peer mentoring relationship with the patient.
• Promote social learning through shared experiences.
• Serve as a Recovery Ambassador for “Gateway”, by promoting a positive recovery message and peer support services.
• Teach patients life skills, including personal care and social responsibility habits
• Assist patients to establish/reestablish and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships with persons such as family members, concern significant others, and community members.
• Using evidence-based practices, and program assessments when working with patients.
• Establish and maintain a Recovery Capital plan with each patient and provide on-going support.
• Assist the patient in identifying informal support systems to access and build on in order to meet the patients’ needs and wants.
• Assist patient to identify their options and participate in all decisions related to establishing and achieving recovery goals.
• Assist patient in developing problem-solving skills so they can respond to challenges to their recovery.
• Recognize risks to the patients’ recovery and/or personal safety and respond appropriately.
• Apply strategies designed to enhance the patient’s motivation to change.
• Reinforce reasons why recovery is a viable and achievable path.
• Assist patients in accessing information and resources necessary to make informed decisions that positively affect the patient’s overall wellness and recovery.
• Provide program participants information, linkage-to-care, follow-up, monitoring and referral to all individualized community services.
• Assist and motivate patients to navigate the array of services available to achieve and maintain recovery.
• Engage and assist patients to move through the stages of recovery and develop recovery capital.
• Maintain patients’ confidentiality according to state and federal laws.
• Maintain a positive working relationships with Gateway’s internal and external staff/providers.
• Perform all job tasks according to paraprofessional, legal, and ethical standards.
• Maintain documentation as required by program, organization, state, and federal laws.
• Documentation and Reporting: Documents or requests documentation of past medical, psychiatric, substance abuse and social history for each patient. Ensures enrollment documents contain all required services and signatures. Maintains, current, accurate and comprehensive information in each record to include all activities, contacts and communications.
• Obtains consents and releases of information when indicated.
• Understand the importance of working as a team with other health care professionals to assist in providing the best care possible for the patient.
• Recognize individual differences of patients by gaining knowledge about personality, culture, lifestyles, gender, sexual orientation, special needs, and other factors influencing patients’ behavior in order to provide peer support services that are sensitive to the uniqueness of the individual serviced.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

1. Eligible for DCF Level II and AHCA Background Screening throughout employment

2. Must complete all required training include 20 hours of job related training annually other training assigned..

3. Must make sound decisions independently. This includes, but is not limited to, recognizing safety risks, abuse, neglect, or other emergencies and responding appropriately.

4. Complete documentation on a daily basis, legibly, and with no more than a 3% error rating.

5. Strict adherence to the Incident (Unusual Event) Reporting, timekeeping, and work attendance requirements.

6. Must practice universal precautions as part of regular job duties whenever applicable.

7. Must be able to perform assigned work independently with minimal supervision.

8. Must not engage in behaviors that erode the cohesiveness of the program staff.

9. May require be approved as an insurable, safe driver by Gateway insurance company.

QUALIFICATIONS

 High School Diploma, GED or higher.

 Has experience in formal work and /or volunteer experience related to mental health/substance abuse

 Licensure: Must have a valid Florida Driver’s License. Be able to drive a company vehicle to facilitate outings and events.

 Strong knowledge of local and international mutual-aid support

 Recovery Support Specialist Certification or Recovery Peer Specialist Certification through the Florida Certification Board. (If a certification is not achieved prior to being hired, it must be completed with 1st year of employment)

SKILLS

 Leadership skills to facilitate groups that are evidence-based, topic-focused and also open forums.

 Good verbal and written communication skills.

 Understands essentials of good time management.

 Ability to interact well with local community, referral sources and clients.

 Safe driving record as verified by the Agency's insurance company.

 Ability to successfully complete agency driving test.

KNOWLEDGE

 Understanding of the SAMHSA’s Working Definition of Recovery, Principles of Recovery and the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

 Have knowledge and understanding for cultural competencies to establish and maintain strong working relationships with culturally diverse patients, their families and caregivers as well as a wide range of community agencies and organizations.

Gateway Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Gateway Community Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a High school diploma or GED?
• Do you have at least two years of lived- experience in recovery from substance use and/or mental health challenges?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Work Location: In person