Peer Support Specialist - Community Mental Health

Benefits

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees.
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly).
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.

About

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission is to provide community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness. We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a consumer-centered, recovery-oriented mental health service delivery model for facilitating community living, psychosocial rehabilitation, and recovery for persons who have the most severe disabling mental illnesses and/or; have severe symptoms and impairments. ACT clients are high utilizers of crisis services.

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager, the Certified Peer Support Specialist promotes recovery through lived experience and provides individualized supportive case management to agency clients with the goals of 1) assisting clients to achieve or maintain stability and independence; 2) providing assistance accessing resources to help clients meet their housing and other needs; and 3) providing expertise about the recovery process and symptom management. This is a shared position between both ACT Teams; you will spend 50% of your time with ACT 1 and 50% of your time with ACT 2.

Essential Duties:

• Provide peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families, and team staff
• Provide case management needs which include being responsible for assessing service needs and coordinating access to necessary services
• Apply, acquire, and maintain benefits long term for clients
• Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living
• Provide on-call crisis intervention
• Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings
• Complete documentation and meet minimum service time based on ACT requirements
• Attends work on a regular and predictable basis

Secondary Duties:

• Maintain good professional relationships with appropriate community figures, referral sources, and other professionals.
• Maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge through attending conferences/ workshops/courses and reading professional materials that are relevant to job requirements and approved by the Program Manager.
• Demonstrate familiarity with and adherence to Utah laws regarding confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Conduct professional life in accordance with the standards of his/her discipline and the clinical policies and procedures of the agency.
• Performs other functions as necessary or assigned.