Peer Support Specialist (Tucson)

Description

Do you have experience in coordinating care or helping people cope with life? Then join our Behavioral Health Services program! EBF provides the highest level of support to members and families through life transitions, behavioral concerns, and/or behavioral health and substance abuse challenges.

The Peer Support Specialist promotes a recovery based approach to member care that emphasizes hope, respect, self-direction and empowerment by providing peer support, personal assistance, education on community resources, supportive services, advocacy and other support primarily in-home and/or in the community to aid in members’ recovery from mental illness and/or addiction disorders.

What Easterseals Offers:

• An additional 5000 dollars per year in incentive pay based on productivity
• Team Environment
• Training in evidence-based practices
• Flexible work schedule (ability to work weekends and evenings)
• Pay differential for bilingual individual

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Under direct supervision, provides supportive assistance to, and the modeling of self-advocacy with the member to help him/her research and access needed and desired community resources.
• Works cooperatively with others to assure the smooth and seamless delivery of comprehensive services to members.
• Assist members in choosing, obtaining and keeping wellness and healthy lifestyle related goals.
• Use a variety of methods, tailored to the individual, to move through the process of setting and reaching health and wellness related goals.
• Compile and share wellness and healthy lifestyle resources for members, staff and/or other stakeholders.
• Provide structure and support to promote personal progress and accountability.
• Assists in the development and coordination of activities, programs, and resources which directly support members or family members/caregivers of consumers in achieving wellness and recovery goals. For example: Assists consumers in obtaining benefits, i.e. SSI, AHCCCS/Medicare, Section 8, identification cards, food boxes.
• Ensures safety of member’s living environment (personal safety, food supply, utilities and appliances working, adequacy of furnishings, and lack of fire hazards).
• Provides instruction in activities of daily living (nutrition, meal planning, shopping, and meal preparation; budgeting; home cleaning and organization; personal grooming and laundry).
• Communicates with clinical team regarding members’ level of independent functioning and current levels of support provided.
• Travels to members’ residences to provide peer support, personal assistance and other supportive in-home services.
• Transports members to and from appointments (agency vehicle), as appropriate.
• Relates own recovery process in a positive and supportive manner through coaching, role modeling and mentoring in order to assist members in developing skills to achieve their goals.
• Completes documentation for behavioral health record in accordance with agency and funding source requirements.
• Advocates for members, as needed, to ensure delivery of necessary services.
• Provides crisis intervention, as needed, and notifies Supervisor and treatment team.
• Assists in the scheduling of follow-up appointments for members.
• Performs other related duties in accordance with agency growth and changes.
• Ability to complete job responsibilities autonomously without daily oversight
• Ability to effectively use standard office equipment including but not limited to; computer, telephone, copy machine, fax machine

Requirements

Experience/Education/License Requirements:

• Peer Support Certificate required.
• 2 years work experience providing direct care in healthcare required.
• Valid, unrestricted Arizona driver’s license and the willingness to use personal vehicle in the course of employment. Must meet minimum requirements of agency insurance carrier.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Vehicle in safe/operable condition.
• Clean criminal background check.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a valid AZ DPS Level 1 fingerprint clearance card.
• CPR and First Aid certification (Employer provides).

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position
• Must be able to operate a computer, phone and other office equipment
• Must be able to stoop, squat, reach, stretch, ascend and descend stairs
• May work in an office setting

Psychological Requirements:

• Must be able to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as face mask, gown, goggles and gloves, for any amount of time necessary to provide a physical barrier to protect the employee and others.
• Must be able to remain calm, non-defensive with a supportive attitude during stressful, potential crisis, and crisis situations
• Must be able to work in an extremely stressful environment where there are considerable mental and emotional demands. Must be able to manage high volumes and unpredictability of work
• Must be able to remain flexible and reprioritize according to the changing demands of the day
• Must be able to manage stress in a fast-paced, unpredictable, intense setting
• Must be able to adapt to diverse cultural environments and communicate in a culturally inclusive manner
• Must be able to represent EBF in a professional manner in all situations

Easterseals Blake Foundation is an EEO/AA/Vet/Disabled Employer