Peer Support Specialist – Espero Rutland

Job Title: Peer Support Specialist – Espero Rutland
Department: Client Services
Program: Espero Rutland Program
Reports To:  Program Coordinator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Full Time

Position Summary

The Peer Support Specialist has lived experience with behavioral health services for severe and persistent mental health disorder(s), substance use, and/or homelessness and is willing to use and share their personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit the team and its clients. The peer specialist functions as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to have a safe and stable life. Collaborates to promote team culture that recognizes, understands, and respects each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences. Responsible to maximize client choice, self-determination, and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment, rehabilitation and support services at Espero Rutland, a high-quality apartment community which is deeply affordable and intensely supportive for 171 individuals experiencing homelessness

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (inclusive but not exhaustive):
All peer specialist services must be recovery-oriented, person-centered, relationship-focused and trauma-informed.

Peer specialist services may include recovery and wellness support, which includes providing information on and support with planning for recovery; mentoring, which includes serving as a role model and providing assistance in finding needed community resources and services; and advocacy, which includes providing support in stressful or urgent situations, and helping to ensure that the recipient’s rights are respected.
Act as an interpreter to non-behavioral health consumer team members to assist them in better understanding each clients’ unique and subjective experience and perceptions.

Provide expertise and consultation from a behavioral health consumer perspective to the team concerning client experiences on symptoms of mental health or substance use issues. Collaborate with team on client response to or opinions of treatment and experiences of recovery.

Help clients identify and understand stigma and discrimination associated with mental health and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.

Assist other team members identify and understand culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with behavioral health issues and develop strategies to address sigma within a team.
Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.

Serve as a liaison between the team and consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and drop-in centers.
Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of client behavioral health symptoms and client response to treatment. Suggest appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate client-centered interventions are provided in response to changes in client mental status or behavior which puts clients at risk (e.g., suicidality).

Provide ongoing assessment, problem-solving, side-by-side services, skills teaching, support (prompts, assignments, encouragement), and environmental adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living.
Help clients to access reliable transportation.

Assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as needed.

Provide side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to help clients socialize (going with a client to community activities, including activities offered by consumer-run peer support organizations).
Assist clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Facilitate discussion and training in peer groups, as determined with the case management team.
Monitor and document participation, progress, referrals, and services provided to participant.
Attending agency, community, and supervisory meetings as needed.

Attending in-service trainings and outside conferences/workshops, as requested by the Program Manager.
Complete paperwork and data reports as requested by the Program Manager.

Qualifications:

Education
Required: High School Diploma or GED.
Preferred: Bachelor’s in human services/related field.
Required: Certification as a Peer Support Specialist in either mental health or substance abuse.
Experience
Required: Have at least one year of experience working as a peer support specialist.
Knowledge of harm reduction practices and 12-step programs for substance use.
Experience or education with human services and people experiencing homelessness.
Computer Skills
Required: Proficient with data management and information systems and have basic knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Other Requirements
Valid driver’s license, ability to drive, and reliable transportation.
Salary/Benefits:

Base Salary Range: $40,114-$49,702.The salary offered will follow Caritas of Austin salary guidelines based on candidate’s education and experience.
Employer paid health, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance for employees.
14 Paid Holidays per year.
20 days of accrued PTO in year one with increases up to 31 days per year.
Retirement plan with employer match.
Discounted Rates on Gold’s Gym and Legal Shield memberships.
Mileage Reimbursement.
Monthly Phone Stipend.
Monthly Paid Parking for employees who office from Downtown Location.

Caritas of Austin is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.