Peer Support Specialist

Why work at Rocky Mountain Human Services?
You will have the opportunity to contribute to an organization that is dedicated to embracing the power of community to support individuals and families in creating their future.

RMHS provides great benefits such as:

• Employer paid medical options, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous paid time off such as vacation, sick, personal, and holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement (full-time employees only)
• Mileage reimbursement
• 403(B) with company match
• Flex Spending Account for Health and Dependent Care Costs
• Employee assistance program

Position Purpose

The Homes for All Veterans (HAV) Peer Support Specialist provides supportive services to veterans experiencing homelessness and are also struggling with military trauma, mental health issues and/or substance misuse using a strength-based approach. Peer Support Specialists work one-on-one with veterans to help develop recovery goals, build skills, and coordinate/navigate services using their lived experience to promote stabilization and recovery while those veterans obtain housing. Working collaboratively with each veteran’s Health Care Navigator (HCN), Veteran Support Specialists (VSS), and VA and Community Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery programs, the Peer Support Specialist assists veterans across all stages of the recovery process including transitioning into housing.

Essential Duties

• Use relevant personal lived experience to act as a role model and establish a trusting relationship with assigned veterans.
• Meet with identified veterans in person to achieve goals for stable housing, improved mental health, and recovery in coordination with other HAV staff.
• Respond to requests from staff for peer support with timely outreach to the Veteran, and follow-up with the staff on the outcome of the request.
• Attend team meetings to discuss veteran cases and provide feedback to the HCN and VSS as well as VA and community agency representatives.
• Collaborate with HCN to link veterans to community and VA services and engage them in the recovery/treatment process.
• Provide support services using a trauma informed approach to include advocacy, education, and mentoring, as needed.
• Assist in the development/facilitation of skill building classes in a group setting.
• Maintain confidentiality according to RMHS and HIPAA guidelines.
• Documentation
• Ensure that veteran contact is documented in Case Logic in a timely manner.
• Complete paperwork as required by the Homes for All Veterans programs.
• Write and submit reports, as needed in a timely manner.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• The Peer Support Specialist must model recovery-oriented behaviors, encourage veteran engagement, seek opportunities to coach social skills, foster optimism, and bolster hope.
• Additionally, the Peer Support Specialist will assist in the development of problem-solving, self-advocacy, and decision-making skills and realistic goal setting.