Summary/Objective

The Peer Specialist will provide peer support services as part of a multi-disciplinary team to persons with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems and monitors and aids patients in a residential facility who are receiving treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. Service provision will focus on working with patients to enhance their recovery. Service is provided to individuals or groups.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ensure patient compliance with program guidelines and log patients' daily actions and behaviors

• Continuously monitor patients for mental and physical well-being, including signs of illness or injury, substance use, or conflict with other patients, and report observations

• Working in concert with the patient's counselor, aid patients with clarification of the 12-steps program, productive use of time, coping with emotional and program concerns

• Facilitate psycho-educational groups for patients

• Chart patient medication usage

• Conduct inspection rounds of the facility to observe patient behavior and ensure the facility is clean and hazard free

• Transport patients to appointments and meetings in the community

• Perform patient drug testing

• Other duties as assigned

• Work with patients to build a supportive and conducive environment for the patient's growth and recovery.

• Knowledge of mental health and substance use conditions, including recognizing coping strategies, the grief process, knowing when to refer and report to leadership, and understanding the interactions between physical and behavioral health.

• Work with patients in creating and implementing appropriate social activities

• Assure access to and/or provide necessary training, groups, and support services for patients.

• Develop a respectful, healthy, and trusting mentoring relationship with patients.

• Document all services provided and collect/track data relating to performance goals and the quality assurance of services offered.

Competencies

• Effective communicator; assertive when necessary

• Highly collaborative with parties both internally and externally

• Respectful and professional toward patients

• Calm under pressure and able to manage crisis

• Maintain strict patient confidentiality

• Empathetic and able to relate to patients with addiction

• Continuous demonstration of behaviors aligned with a posture of servant leadership and our cultural values

• Organized with time management skills to meet tight deadlines

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Work Environment

This job operates in a residential treatment facility environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptops, photocopiers, and smartphones.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This job's specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. This would require the ability to bend or stoop as necessary. This position must be mobile throughout the facility and work on a computer for periods.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, nonexempt position. Days and hours of work vary according to the assigned shift.

Travel

Little to no travel is expected for this position.

Required Education, Experience, or Eligibility Qualifications

• High School education or equivalent

• Proficient with a variety of computer software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Suite and desktop publishing

• Successful completion of Certified Peers Specialist Training (ICPR or other recognized National or International certification)

Preferred Education and Experience

Previous Human Services training and experience

EEO Statement

Volunteers of America Northern Rockies is committed to equal opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristics. Volunteers of America Northern Rockies will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you are interested in applying for an employment opportunity and feel you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ADA, please contact us at 307-672-0475.