Peer Support Worker

Company: Brien Center for Mental Health
Location: Pittsfield
Posted on: June 6, 2021

Job Description:

General Description:   

To support Persons with lived experience, while promoting wellness and recovery. The Peer Support Worker will promote person centered self determination and decision making through the use of their own recovery stories and lived experience. 

Essential Job Functions

• Support Persons to identify and develop individual goals toward personal recovery and wellness.
• Complete Activity Log of time spent with Persons
• Complete a weekly calendar of meetings and appointments and submit to supervisor weekly
• Use Certified Peer Specialist Training (CPS) skills to listen, support, model and inspire for hope and self determination.
• Utilize an Action Plan for Prevention and Recovery approach to develop person centered wellness and recovery plans
• Use skills to inspire employees and Persons to understand trauma, language and person centered support skills
• Attend, learn and utilize skills from IPS Intentional Peer Support (Sherry Mead)
• Support the 8 Dimensions of Wellness
• Assist Persons with goal setting, problem solving and skill building.
• Communicate a sense of hopefulness, equality and respect at all times to provide encouragement and support for Person.
• Participate in recovery planning meeting based on CPS Guidelines..
• Facilitate/ co-facilitate recovery based groups and workshops.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community resources, which support Persons links to the community.
• Attend Peer Worker Trainings and Workshops that support recovery and wellness services within the agency and through other recovery and wellness trainings by the Recovery Learning Community, DMH and other  trainings as required.
• Meet and support Persons a minimum of once a week to develop recovery skills
• Transport Persons in the community when needed
• Collaborate and participate in meetings and service coordination with outside agencies and community supports
• Assist and teach Persons to access local transportation (PT-1, BRTA, taxi, natural supports, etc.)
• Serve on interagency committees
• Report any incidents, accidents, injuries to your supervisor according to agency policy
• Other duties as assigned by supervisors

Administrative functions

• Complete all required paperwork i.e. time cards, , mileage accounting etc
• Documentation based on CPS Training Guidelines
• Attend all scheduled supervision.
• Keep supervisors well informed
• Participate in monthly Peer Professional staff meetings and other trainings and workshops
• Follow all agency policies and procedures

Other Requirements

• Ability to pass a CORI (Criminal Background check) and DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles check)
• Drivers License and ability to use a personally insured vehicle for agency business
• Attend CPS Training and pass CPS Exam within 1 year of hire or transfer to position

Qualifications and Skills

• Individual with lived experience and possessing strong personal skills and professional peer support skills to self disclose in a manner that is trauma sensitive  for the purpose of promoting recovery and wellness for Persons and to support the mission of recovery principles.
• Problem solving skills and ability to suggest options and alternatives using core values of a certified peer specialist.
• Support and promote the belief that Persons with lived experience can and do recover in a personal way that represents each Persons personal journey.
• Computer skills.
• Strong listening, oral and presentation (communication) skills.

• Able to convey lived experience in a person centered manner.

Required Trainings

• Human Rights
• CPR
• First Aid
• OSHA
• Motivational Interviewing
• Trauma Informed Care
• Peer Support Worker Training (Year 1 and refresher as needed)
• Mutuality Workshop (Year 1 and refresher as needed)
• Hearing Voices Network Training for knowledge and possible Facilitator Training
• Intentional Peer Support (IPS) (Year 1 and refresher as needed)
• Documentation Trainings as per CPS Guidelines
• Corporate Compliance
• And all required and applicable Brien Center trainings/ meetings.

Working Conditions

• Works in various places in the community and at other Brien Center sites

Physical Conditions

• Manuel & visual dexterity: correctable
• Lifting maximums: weight of grocery bags and/ or laundry baskets
• Push, pull, stand, reach overhead and twist
• Able to bend at knees, waist and lower self to the ground or floor without assistance
• Able to physically climb and descend stairs without assistance
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks

Keywords: Brien Center for Mental Health, Pittsfield , Peer Support Worker, Other , Pittsfield, Massachusetts