The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Peer Support Specialist, to join our team. The Peer Support Specialist provides direct care services to patients who meet criteria for the Substance Use Disorder Outreach Program (SUDOP) to promote and encourage entry of eligible individuals to mental health, medical, and substance use services. This position is responsible for assisting in the recovery process and supporting consumers by listening, encouraging, coaching, empowering, and connecting peers to resources that suit an individual’s recovery needs. The Peer Support Specialist will work with the assigned Care Coordinator to conduct outreach as a team to eligible population in a variety of settings in the community not limited to homeless encampments, shelters, drug treatment facilities. This position requires travel via an agency vehicle and flexible hours

Your role in action:

• Interacts with the community, colleagues, and patients by following the key principles

of a trauma informed approach (i.e., safety, trustworthiness, transparency, peer

support, empowerment, voice and choice, culture, history, gender)

• Develops relationships by providing support and encouragement that will enhance

consumer's ability to act against the problem instead of being controlled.

• Demonstrates ethical conduct in all professional activities.
• Always takes responsibility for personal recovery, and models self-responsibility.
• Encourages consumers to attend consumer meetings/support groups and supports

their effort.

• Utilizes Standard Precautions appropriately and participates in monitoring to prevent.

the spread of infection.

• Supports an environment that is environmentally and technically safe while providing

Care

• Delivers care with appropriate age and cultural competence to specific patient

populations according to individualized needs.

• Complies with Agency policies and procedures and SUDOP Operating Guidelines
• Coach peers about recovery.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education:

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED.

Experience:

• One (1) year of direct care experience or behavioral healthcare environment preferred.

Other Key Qualifications:

• Must have a valid Texas driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain Texas of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Community Health Worker (CHW) certification within 6 months of hire date.
• Certified Peer Specialist or certification obtained within 90 days of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Understanding of Standard Precautions and Infection Control Procedures.
• Knowledge of and the ability to apply Handle with Care Crisis Intervention Techniques (HWC III).
• Must be able to work respectfully and maintain professional boundaries with other disciplines.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Effective data collection skills.
• Able to work collaboratively with others in a team.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to coordinate patient care with treatment team.
• Knowledgeable and competent in discussing HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HCV (Hepatitis C
• Virus), and other communicable diseases associated with substance use.
• Ability to discuss sexuality openly and comfortably.
• Knowledgeable and competent in discussing opioid overdose.
• Ability to train individuals to use overdose reversal medications and harm reduction materials.
• Must be able to enter required documentation into a database and online medical record.
• Must be able to use basic word processing and data spreadsheets.

What we have to offer:

The HARRIS CENTER offers competitive salary, excellent benefits package, retirement plans with company matching, prior service credit towards generous PTO accrual, outstanding wellness programs and professional development.

Employees can also take advantage of business casual dress code, corporate discounts, and gym memberships. New hire referral bonus, discounts are also available on an optional basis. These include mobile phone service, fitness centers and other wellness amenities.

What else you should know:

This posting is associated with position #50341.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The HARRIS CENTER provided care to over 79,000 people in fiscal year 2019 and has an annual budget of over $275 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 42 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,300 employees, The HARRIS CENTER is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.