Under the general supervision of the Team Leader/Evening Coordinator or designee,  Peer Specialists serve as role models, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals and assist in the development of community support systems and networks.  The Peer Specialist assists assigned individuals in developing and maintaining viable living, working and social situations in the community by obtaining needed medical, social, psychosocial, educational, financial, vocational and other services.  Participates in the provision of crisis intervention services to participants. The majority of duties are often performed independently under general supervision. The Peer Specialist assists residents through supportive counseling to participate as fully as possible in the life of the community with the intent of achieving individual goals that foster personal growth and the highest level of independence possible and desired.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

Counsels residents regarding plans for meeting service needs, and aids the recipients to mobilize inner capabilities and environmental resources to attain life goals including goals of goals of housing. Educates residents about self-help techniques and self-help group processes Teaches residents effective coping strategies based on personal experience Teaches symptom management skills Assists in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals. Assists in maintaining up-to-date, accurate individual case records on each resident.   Assists in obtaining and developing resource information for residents in all aspects of their care; disseminates this information to recipients in a manner that is clear and understandable. Assist the resident in meeting service plan goals. Helps facilitate individualized services to the resident that meet the diverse needs of the recipient and focus on the discharge-planning goal of housing. Explains the types of clinical services, and ICL programs available to recipients; helps instruct the recipient in daily living skills, socialization skill enhancement, conflict resolution and most importantly, housing readiness. Performs crisis assessment and nonverbal and verbal crisis intervention. Assists in referring residents to community resources and other organizations.  Accompanies recipients on regularly scheduled or emergency visits to medical treatment facilities, social agencies, government offices, or other locations associated with the treatment or assistance of the resident. Advocates on behalf of recipient with outside service providers and within ICL. Assists resident in finding and getting into vocational training or other training opportunities, and works with other team members in addressing the needs of residents. Immediately reports serious incidents, serious incident allegations, incidents or sensitive situations to supervisors. Completes incident reports in accordance with ICL policy.  Accounts for residents and files missing person reports on recipients not accounted for in accordance with ICL policy and procedure. Complies with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis. Attends regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities. Complies with agency infection control policies. Other job-related duties that may be assigned.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to work with residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences. Ability to serve as a role model to residents. Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, residents, families, and the public. Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned. Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others Ability to work independently, and to conform to all applicable safety and accountability measures Knowledge of how disabilities can adversely affect functioning and ways to cope with or overcome such effects Ability to read and write at least at a 12th grade level and to follow written and oral instructions Ability to accompany or transport residents (some assignments may require possession of a valid driver's license). Ability to be empathetic and supportive to residents instructing, demonstrating, modeling, and encouraging appropriate behavior and skills

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Completion of an internship or comparable training in peer advocacy preferred; experience in providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless. Past or current recipient of mental health, substance services or homeless services preferred.