Peer Support Specialist

Position: Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: Peer Support Manager

Location: Denver

Type: Part-time

Pay: $25.00 per hour $40 cell phone stipend

The Peer Support Specialist will provide assistance support and advocacy for program clients identifying life choices and helping them overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. Focusing on the clients strengths the Peer Support Specialist will promote personal growth development and recovery. Using their lived experience the Peer Support Specialist will support clients with the transition from homelessness to being housed. This position reports to the Peer Support Manager.

Schedule / Hours:

• 40 hrs/wk flexible with some nights and weekends may be needed
• Additional time will be spent in organizational meetings meeting with external partners and coalitions meeting with residents etc.

Key Area #1 - One to One Peer Support

• Provides individual peer support drawing on common experiences as a peer to validate clients experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Helps clients identify understand and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental health substance misuse and homelessness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
• Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
• Appropriately responds to crises as they arise in a trauma-informed manner.
• Solicits listens and responds to client feedback about services.
• Assist chronically homeless individuals in transition into and maintain supportive housing up to one-year post move.
• Provides information and assists clients in skill-building activities including Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP) goal setting and problem-solving.
• Facilitates connections to substance misuse programs and to on-site/telehealth mental health resources.

Key Area #2 - Group Support

• Works to create a supportive working environment that encourages trauma-informed and culturally competent interactions that build collaboration and create a kind and respectful atmosphere.
• Provides group peer support drawing on common experiences as a peer to validate clients experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Engages clients in participating in the weekly neighborhood cleanups.

Key Area #3 - Data Collection and Documentation

• Maintains and ensures the confidentiality of all client information.
• Completes all necessary documentation including HMIS in a timely manner.
• Completes all required forms and reports in a complete and timely manner.

Key Area #4 Professionalism and Teamwork

• Understands and follows the related policies and procedures of the operations.
• Attends required meetings and regular supervision focusing on mastering the core competencies of the Peer Support Specialist profession.
• Attends and participates in formal and informal staff meetings and addresses client and program issues.
• Provides excellent internal and external customer service and communicates in a professional timely and effective manner.
• Actively participates collaborates and contributes to the multidisciplinary team to promote a team culture in which each clients point of view experiences and preferences are recognized understood and respected and in which client self-determination and decision-making in service planning are maximized and supported.

Other Responsibilities:

• Complete other special duties and tasks as assigned by management.
• We are a dynamic and growing team and at times everyone is required to do a bit of everything. You may be asked to take on other responsibilities from time to time but these should not get in the way of your ultimate responsibility which is support

Physical Requirements:

The position requires the ability to perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Tasks may involve prolonged periods of standing sitting or walking as well as lifting and carrying objects up to 25 lbs. Additional requirements include occasional reaching bending crouching or kneeling along with manual dexterity to operate tools equipment and technology. Visual and auditory ability to respond to tasks and ensure safety are also essential.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Prior or current recipient of mental health substance and/or homeless services with the ability to role model recovery and who is actively participating in their own recovery. Two (2) years or more in recovery is preferred. All pathways are honored.
• One year or more of volunteer and/or paid experience is preferred.
• Peer Support Specialist training can be provided along with State of Colorado Credential.
• At least one year of being successfully housed is mandatory
• Experience in operating computerized office equipment and telephones.
• Familiar with Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP) facilitation is considered a plus.
• Travel between sites is needed reliable transportation is preferred.
• Cell phone to download and access CVC applications is required

Skills Needed:

• Cultural competence
• Time management with the ability to meet a timeline
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Administrative Skills
• Conflict Mediation/Resolution Skills
• Ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and experience
• Trauma-Informed approach
• Creativity and flexibility
• Resilience and thick skin

Colorado Village Collaborative provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type 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.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.