The Department of Mental Health (DMH) state operated program High St. is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and compassionate person to serve as a Mental Health Coordinator I, Peer Specialist.

The ideal candidate uses personal experiences of recovery in a professional capacity to promote hope for a life outside of the framework of mental health services and to support learning about the process of recovery.

Please Note: This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, Tuesday-Saturday 1:00pm-9:30pm, Days off: Sunday/Monday

Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provides support education information and training in recovery tools and techniques to persons served by DMH or DMH contracted programs.

• Assist person serve to develop and communicate goals of their personal recovery action plans to treatment team.

• Supports the development of self-advocacy skills and other strategies that promote recovery to persons served to support their recovery process through teaching and modeling these skills.

• Provides training and consultation to other staff to facilitate an understanding of the perspective of persons served through, but not limited to Recovery Learning Community and DMH in house trainings.

• Served as a mentor to promote hope, resiliency, empowerment and is willing to share their own recovery story.

• Advocates for person served by acting as a liaison between them and the community. To ensure that person served can access the serves and resources they need in the community.

• Responsible for transporting or assisting transportation for person by using state or personal vehicle. Drives and assists in community integration.

• Demonstrates the knowledge and awareness of the cultural needs of persons served.

• Responsible for maintaining a therapeutic atmosphere through professional performance and attitude.

• Attends all training courses and classes as required.

• Maintains record information and other administrative documentation according to departmental standard.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain harmonious working relationship
• Capacity to effectively communicate orally and in a written format
• Maintain creativity and flexibility while working with person served
• Capable of exercising patience, empathy, and understanding
• Knowledge of the principles and practices in strength based, person centered services.
• Knowledge of the organization and function of community mental health programs
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to utilize basic computer applications such as: Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.

• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and support to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research.

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4.