What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Support Specialist position at Lutheran Family Services?
Peer Support Specialist
Job Type
Full-Time
Position Summary:
- Peer Support Specialists support individuals through shared knowledge, beliefs, and experiences that promote recovery and wellness. Peer Specialists support a client’s recovery journey through advocacy, modeling skills and behavior, education, and assistance with navigating the system of care. The Peer Support Specialist does require a specialized certification (more information below).
Job Duties:
- Educate the individual about the peer support relationship, to include topics such as, healthy personal boundaries, individual rights, and the significance of shared decision making.
- Support the individual in their unique recovery journey through active listening, modeling, and resource connection.
- Assist individuals and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination.
- In collaboration with the individual, develop a peer support recovery plan.
- Provide wellness and recovery planning for enrolled individuals using evidence-based models.
- Provide coaching to help individuals facilitate system navigation, access community resources, and engage with formal and informal supports and resources.
- Provide coaching on advocacy and self-help skills to enhance the individual’s process of recovery.
- Share experiences, skills, strengths, supports, and resources to benefit the individual by demonstrating wellness through their own effective symptomology management.
- Assist individuals with socializing, planning, and conducting leisure activities.
- Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
- Provide side-by-side support, skills modeling, and/or transportation to support health and wellness, vocational/educational, and independent living goals (as needed).
- Provide and arrange transportation to program-related appointments as needed.
- Provide expertise and consultation, from a mental health consumer perspective to the team.
- Serve as a liaison between the team and consumer-run programs.
- Collaborate with the team to complete required assessments.
- Participate in regular supervision sessions and team meetings as required by the program.
- Participate in and represent LFS at community/partner meetings to provide peer advocacy.
- Other job-related duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent time management and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to collaborate with peers, clients, and other individuals in the work environment.
- Strong client advocacy skills.
- Thorough knowledge of recovery principles and the unique role of peer support.
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Regular and predictable attendance, including promptness for work.
- Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Family Services.
- Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be an inclusive and accessible workplace.
Position Competencies:
- Helping
- Decision Making
- Empathy
- Relationship Building
Education and Experience:
- A high school diploma or GED is required.
- Must have at least a 12-month period of sobriety from drugs and/or alcohol.
- Must be willing to identify as a former or current consumer of mental health and/or substance use services.
- Paid or volunteer experience providing service or support to clients is preferred.
- Peer Support Specialists would preferably hold a Peer Support Certification, at time of hire, in alignment with Nebraska State Requirements.
- Military and Veteran Peer Support Specialists must have a history of service in the U.S. Military.
Physical Requirements
- Hybrid work environment (in-office, remote, and field setting).
- Company-issued laptop and cell phone.
- Walking and transporting client to and from various locations in the community (as required per program needs).
- Valid driver’s license, liability auto insurance, and ability to drive a personal vehicle daily to transport clients safely within the community.
Lutheran Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on age, race, religion, color, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.