Description

MISSION: Goodwill helps people who are facing barriers find and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride, and dignity.

VISION: We envision a community where there is a job for everyone who wants to work.

VALUES: KINDNESS INTEGRITY SERVICE INNOVATION

Be Kind Be Honest Be Helpful Be Creative

The expectation of this position is to achieve organizational, team, and personal goals in alignment with our Strategic Priorities and through living out our Organizational Values.

JOB TITLE: PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

AREA: EMPLOYMENT WORKS

DEPARTMENT: EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

DIVISION: HUMAN SERVICES

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To provide supervision, training and support to program participants with persistent mental illness who are working and/or volunteering in the community. This position is responsible for assisting program participants in preparing for job placement, ensuring job retention, ensuring the quality of work at job sites, promoting Goodwill’s brand, strengthening partnerships with employers and referring clinics, and completing required program documentation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assumes a caseload of program participants ready for job coaching services as recommended by Program Manager.
• Provides personal and career counseling as well as behavioral intervention for program participants to enhance job performance.
• Maintains consistent and effective communication with referring clinicians, hiring authorities, job site supervisors, and others within the program participant’s circle of support to ensure positive outcomes and resolve performance issues.
• Assists in teaching work duties and modeling appropriate behavior to program participants at various job sites using simple and repetitive training methods. Position also performs the same work of assigned program participant at work site as necessary to ensure completion of work assignments and quality outcomes.
• Completes all necessary paperwork including but not limited to case notes, monthly statistics, progress reports, and program plans.
• Communicates with referring agencies, care providers, parents, and counselors as appropriate to help program participants succeed in the workforce and achieve professional goals.
• Becomes familiar with the needs and limitations of assigned program participants to ensure appropriate accommodations and effective supervision.
• Assists enrollment coordinators by attending or facilitating program enrollments. Promotes peer support component at intake.
• Demonstrate cooperation and ongoing communication with employment specialists by providing necessary interventions that support positive vocational outcomes.
• Supports ongoing vocational trainings and/or skills workshops to bolster success and job retention of program participants.
• Assists program participants in accessing community resources to facilitate greater well-being and independence (e.g. transportation, affordable housing, counseling, etc.).
• Drives on company business as required.
• Performs other job related duties as required.
• Safeguards company property, including donated goods. Reports any incidents of theft or unauthorized possession of company property.
• Acts safely at all times, following all safety rules and regulations. Follows all company policies and procedures.
• Promotes and demonstrates cooperation and teamwork. Assists and shares knowledge and information with other employees as needed.
• Uses good interpersonal skills such as courtesy, sensitivity, politeness, and thoughtfulness.
• Works with, trains, and/or acts as a good example for program participants receiving training at Goodwill.

Qualifications

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• High school or GED required; some college coursework in human services or related area preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years relevant work experience.
• Must have personal experience working with people who are managing a mental health condition.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Effective grammar, English and writing skills.
• PC Proficiency in MS Office.
• Reliable transportation, valid California driver’s license, liability insurance, and a DMV record acceptable to Goodwill’s insurance carrier.

OTHER:

Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with program participant information.