Job Summary:
Under the supervision of the NAMI Northern Illinois (NAMI NI) Executive Director, the Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) is a part-time position that works to advance NAMI NI’s mission by supporting NAMI NI’s Helpline, peer-led programs, and its consumers.
A Family Peer Support Specialist provides professional peer support services for persons in recovery from mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. The FPSS will serve as a role model, mentor, and advocate for individuals and families living with mental health conditions. The goal of the FPSS is to help promote long-term recovery. The FPSS must have the ability to share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships with program participants. The FPSS must possess an understanding of and respect for everyone’s unique path to recovery.
This work aids in recovery, advocacy, and navigation while supporting recovery-oriented goals such as education, employment, housing, and social connections. Peer providers can bridge the gap that often exists in formal and informal treatment settings and fosters genuine hope for recovery.
This part-time peer support staff member will extend our operational hours, providing assistance into the evening. The helpline is a free and confidential resource offering a listening ear, guidance, and connection to appropriate mental health and social service resources over the phone. This service functions like a Warmline locally, catering to those seeking support and guidance to direct services.
Weekday afternoon and evening hours
Key Responsibilities:
- Strive to improve quality of life for individuals and families affected by mental illness through support, education, and advocacy.
- Provide non-judgmental, client-directed one-on-one peer or family support to improve recovery and reduce crisis and hospitalizations for people with mental illness.
- Help clients and their loved ones by clarifying issues and needs; researching, locating, and providing information; researching and exploring answers and alternative solutions; helping individuals and family members to implement solutions; and escalating unresolved problems. Help clients obtain mental and physical health care.
- Ability to maintain client confidentiality by following HIPAA guidelines.
- Assist clients in communicating with their health care providers, encourage them to get services for which they qualify, improve their mental and physical health, and learn to communicate with their support network and ask for help when needed.
- Track and document clients served including assistance provided, referrals made, and follow-up required.
- Assist participants in navigating the systems of care for resources needed to meet the participant’s needs.
- Interact with a diverse client base while maintaining professionalism and appropriate boundaries.
Qualifications and Skills:
Required Qualifications
- Customer service, social work, and non-profit work experience preferred, especially working directly with people living with a mental health condition or their families
- Family Peer Support Specialist Certification within 1-year of hire
- Personal experience with mental illness
- Knowledge of issues facing individuals living with mental illness and their families in the state of Illinois
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with local advocacy and community-building
- Ability to facilitate large groups, such as a peer support group
- Ability to coordinate and conduct meetings, trainings, and presentations
Core Competencies
- Strong leadership and time management skills
- Strong communication skills including the ability to write and speak persuasively
- Flexible in time and temperament to meet training, support group, and client needs
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
Position is based out of Winnebago County, Illinois.
This position is grant-funded.
The above examples are intended only as illustrations of various types of work performed in this position. The omission of specific statements or duties does not exclude them from this position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitude to perform each duty proficiently.
This post does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at will employment relationship.
NAMI Northern Illinois is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This statement applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internship.
NAMI Northern Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of this employment process, please contact us to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Employee assistance program
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
