Peer Support Worker

DESCRIPTION 

This position provides non-clinical, evidence-based peer support services, serves as a member advocate, shares coping skills, and provides recovery information for members. This position performs a wide range of tasks designed to assist members in regaining control over their own lives through individual recovery planning, wellness self-management, and strengthening resilience to improve personal health outcomes. This position will demonstrate competency in recovery, resiliency, and wellness practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides peer support to members with mental health and substance use conditions identified as needing intensive wellness support and recovery-oriented interventions.
• Utilizes the 8 dimensions of wellness to help members identify their social determinants of health needs, determine their whole health goals and objectives in order to address mental health, substance use and physical health conditions.
• Guides members in identifying their options and participating in all decisions related to establishing and achieving their recovery goals including functioning as a member of their treatment/recovery support team.
• Guides members in developing problem-solving skills so that they can respond to challenges that may arise in their recovery process.
• Implements strategies to help members keep important follow-up appointments by identifying barriers and obstacles and collaborating to find solutions.
• Engages members in inpatient settings to facilitate post-crisis planning, assist with transitions from different treatment settings and navigating multiple systems.
• Facilitates community participation/inclusion for members by encouraging the exploration and pursuit of community roles.
• Performs ongoing interventions to engage members in traditional and nontraditional health services and supports, as well as community and social support networks including community-based peer, parent, and family support services.
• Strategically shares their lived experience to inspire hope, empowerment, and positive action.
• Implements, coordinates, and monitors strategies for members and families to improve health and quality of life outcomes.
• Acts as an advocate for member’s needs by identifying and addressing gaps in services and supports.
• Educates providers, supporting staff, members, and families on resiliency and recovery principles, strategies, and tools.
• Facilitates a team approach to member care.
• Documents all interactions according to company standards. 
• Maintains professional responsibility to maximize supervision, respond appropriately to personal stressors that impact ability to perform job duties, and recognize crisis situations or risks to the member’s safety and respond appropriately.
• Travels to meet members within the community.
• Other duties as assigned.

ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Ability to make decisions that require significant analysis of solutions, and quick, original, and independent thinking.
• Ability to determine appropriate courses of action in complex situations that may not be addressed by existing policies or protocols. 
• Knowledge of local mental health, substance use, and community systems; wellness strategies, resiliency and recovery principles, practices, and tools. 
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to represent strengths and needs of members in clinical settings.
• Ability to perform medium to heavy duty activities.
• Ability to summarize and document findings and maintain complete and accurate records.
• Must have the ability to assess and utilize community resources. 
• Must be able to work effectively, independently and in a team, and prioritize in a fast-paced environment to meet the demands of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• High school diploma or high school equivalent
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must be a self-identified person in recovery who is a current or former user of mental health/substance use services and can relate to others who are now using those services.
• Must have or be able to obtain certification – Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW), Certified Youth Peer Support Worker, Y – as required by the state, within one year of hire.
• Minimum training requirements include twenty (20) hours of documented training and/or continuing education within the first 90 days of employment and maintain twenty (20) hours of continuing education annually.
• Must obtain CPR – First Aid and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification within the first 30 days of employment. 
• Maintain a valid and unrestricted NM Driver’s License
• Must be able to use personal vehicle over course of employment.
• Maintain valid and sufficient personal automobile insurance. 
• Must pass FBI fingerprint clearance check to maintain employment. Must pass and maintain a Driving Record clearance in accordance with GCLC policies and procedures.

Preferred

• Previous work providing in-home or community-based mental health or case management services.
• Experience with medically integrated mental health services.
• Demonstrated interest in rural and community health.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both verbal and written.