Certified Peer Support-Youth Parent
This position is located at our Dale County Children's Clinic in Ozark, Alabama.
This position will cover Dale, Barbour, and Henry Counties
Shift Schedule:
Monday/Wednesday 10:30a-6:30p; Tuesday/Thursday 11a-7p; Friday 9a-5p
Hours must be flexible to meet the needs of families.
POSITION SUMMARY/FUNCTION
The Parent Peer Support Partner's (PPSP) role is to provide intentional, authentic support to a parent or primary caregiver of a child with emotional, physical, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges. The skilled PPSP's unrelenting focus is on the parent/caregiver. Primary functions include but not limited to: provide authentic and purposeful support to parents /primary caregivers; support parents/primary caregivers in achieving their identified goals; deliver intentional support activities that build on the strengths and resiliency traits of parent/primary caregiver; and collaborate with agency staff internally and representatives from community-based organizations and child-serving systems in providing support to families receiving services. Travel may be required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
All six of the following competencies listed below should be reliably and consistently demonstrated in each and every interaction with the parent.
1. Peer-based relationships:
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Must be able to introduce yourself to the parent/primary caregiver and explain your role as a PPSP.
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Ability to establish peer-based relationships using strategic self-disclosure to build connection based on understanding the parent's experience.
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Ability to build a strong sense of connection based in equality, common respect and mutuality.
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Ability to demonstrate active listening skills, empathetic responses and validate the parent's experience.
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Must be able to use person-first and strength-based language in every interaction with the parent/primary caregiver.
2. Encourage Growth as a Peer:
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Ability to create conditions for parents to make decisions that are best for their family and determine their course of action.
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Ability to estimate right fit and match of support and follow through on a varied range of support activities.
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Support others to understand and appreciate the parent's positions.
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Understand the parent's position, interests and preferences and actively support them.
3. Actively Accept:
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Continually work to ensure the parent feels empowered and confident in their own decision-making ability.
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Ability to extract functional strengths from the parents' story and share them with family and other team members.
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Ability to actively accept parent's decisions and communicate a sense of acceptance even when you disagree.
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Ability to manage personal bias and disagreement so it does not interfere with the support relationship.
4. Respect throughout the relationship.
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Ability to communicate a sense of respect that parent voice matters and deserves to be heard.
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Ability to identify, extract and utilize the parent's functional strengths and family culture to develop individualized support plans.
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Ability to communicate a sense of cultural humility in connecting with each parent.
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Ability to identify unmet needs as a key to establishing understanding.
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Ability to assist parents in reflecting on their own journey and encourage empowerment.
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Ability to model a relational stance of respect and acceptance in all interactions with and about parents
5. Link with Others in Collaboration and Problem Solving:
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Build collaborative partnerships with others demonstrating a non-adversarial advocacy approach.
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Participate as needed in team meetings.
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Connect parents with other parents with similar life experiences to reduce isolation, shame and blame and increase natural supports.
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Ability to model a strength-based approach and utilize collaborative problem- solving techniques with others.
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Utilize parent strengths and resiliency traits in problem solving and brainstorming solutions.
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Ability to recognize strengths of collaborative partners.
6. Suspend and Interrupt Bias & Blame:
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Strategically use own life experiences to empower others to suspend their own bias about parents.
7. Assist with crisis intervention as needed.
8. Other duties as assigned by the Program Director.
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Treats recipients with respect and courtesy at all times.
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Serve as a liaison and advocate for SpectraCare recipients with community agencies and the public.
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Actively participates in committees as required.
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Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
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Works in a cooperative manner with other SpectraCare employees, individuals and/or family members.
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Receive and respond to inquiries promptly and courteously.
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Meet with supervisor as established.
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Must perform all duties with the highest standard of ethics.
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Attends regular workshops, trainings, in-services, and/or administrative meetings as appropriate.
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Maintain travel records accurately and submitted within the appropriate timeframe.
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Ensure necessary documentation is completed in a timely manner with minimal errors and in compliance with applicable guidelines and policies.
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Adhere to Dress Code as set forth in the SpectraCare policies and procedures.
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Follow guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policies, SpectraCare Clinical Policies, Alabama Department of Mental Health Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
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Performs duties independently and/or with minimal supervision.
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Functions within professional boundaries with recipients and others.
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Works well with other staff and recipients to ensure safety of program, recipients, and other staff.
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Functions and performs well in stressful environments and manages work related stress to ensure individual safety.
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Demonstrates willingness to work on any unit / program at SpectraCare based on facility needs as directed.
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Conforms to SpectraCare's Core Values as duties are carried out daily.
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Other services, tasks, functions, and responsibilities deemed necessary; not otherwise specified.
9. Regular attendance with timely arrival and departure according to scheduled hours.
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Must be able to work full time with rotating assignments as necessary to include but not limited to overtime hours, nights, holidays and/or weekends as scheduled.
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To ensure client/employee safety while on duty, must remain awake during scheduled working hours.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
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Attend departmental meetings and other assigned meetings.
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Attend all required job-related/system training.
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Assist in other areas as needed.
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Conforms to System's policies and procedures.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
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Ability to provide support and reassurance, followed by information, to assist parent/primary caregiver in navigating child-serving systems and community resource as well as quality and supervision standards as determined by clinical leadership.
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Knowledge mental illness, mental health system, and recovery from mental illness.
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Basic knowledge of empowerment and the goals and objectives of the consumer movement.
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Must have the capacity to work flexible hours including some evening/weekend availability based on the needs of the parent.
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Must be able to drive to families' homes, community events, and meetings at service provider offices or schools as needed.
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May provide transportation to parents and family members as necessary to complete support goals as allowed.
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Skills to engage and work with others from diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
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Ability to work with individuals and groups, specifically parents of youth/young adults.
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Basic knowledge of consumer rights and advocacy.
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Ability to connect with parents of individuals in treatment for mental illness and/or substance use.
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Ability to understand the unique experience of mental illness and/or substance use.
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Ability to serve as a role model, showing by example that recovery is possible.
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Ability to relay coping skills, positive attitude skills and self - esteem.
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Ability to assist families in researching their assigned health plan on-line so families have a greater understanding of what their plans offer in terms of coverage.
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Ability to assist in establishing and maintaining positive and effective working relationships/support systems and interface with internal staff, agencies, organizations, and groups.
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Ability to respond professionally in a crisis situation.
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Ability to communicate with seriously mental ill consumers and staff, both written and oral.
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Knowledge of mental illness and /or child welfare and their social implications.
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Knowledge of cultural diversity.
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Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, and interventions common to acute psychotic individuals, to non-violent crisis intervention practice.
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Knowledge of available community resources.
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Basic knowledge of individual's rights.
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Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders.
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Ability to provide services in all facilities and other locations as deemed necessary.
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Must be motivated and able to make quick and accurate decisions. Must be able to meet and exceed expectations. Must be able to organize and perform all duties with minimum mistakes and without constant supervision.
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Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of supervisors, managers, and/or the general public in an effective and understanding manner, to promote quality of care.
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Ability to maintain unit files to include but not limited to recipient charts, etc. in accordance with the requirements of SpectraCare policies and procedures, Alabama Administrative Code, CMS and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
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Ability to attend to detailed assignments and follow through with task until completion.
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Ability to perform all duties in a safe manner, without endangering any employee or asset.
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Working knowledge of business English, spelling and math.
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Working knowledge of office practices and procedures.
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Skill in keying rapidly and accurately.
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Ability to provide excellent verbal and written communication skills.
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Ability to communicate with recipients, families, and/or other agencies regarding case management services.
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Ability to adhere to health and safety regulations.
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Ability to adhere to duties assigned by Supervisor and/or other designees.
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Ability to operate office machines such as computers, copier, fax machines and/or other equipment or programs.
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Ability to make minor decisions in accordance with rules and regulations and apply these to work problems.
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Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
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Ability to adhere to SpectraCare policy, HIPAA laws, and 42 CFR regarding confidentiality.
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Ability to stay awake during working shift.
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Ability to demonstrate initiative.
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Able to work in a fast-paced environment.
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Ability to work independently and/or in a team environment as required.
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Ability to understand and follow orders and directives and work with supervisor and other staff.
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Ability to have patience and emotional stability.
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Ability to maintain unit files through Electronic Medical Record.
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Ability to function and perform well in stressful environments and mange work related stress to ensure safety of others.
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Ability to travel within catchment areas via personal transportation and/or system transportation as required.
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Ability to adapt to conditions which may vary considerably and/or to respond professionally and efficiently in crisis situations.
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Ability to pass a drug screen when given to include but not limited to pre-employment, random, post-accident, suspicion, etc.
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Ability to function within professional boundaries with individuals and others.
ESSENTIAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
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Successfully complete Alabama Certified Peer Specialist Training and Exam held by ADMH.
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Complete initial new hire training.
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Complete required on the job training (OJT) training by the department.
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Obtain and maintain proper certifications and/or CEs needed to perform job duties.
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Complete annual training as required by SpectraCare Policy and Procedure, the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
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Complete First Aid/CPR upon hire and working alone with clients; and continuously thereafter maintaining current certification.
WORK ENVIRONNENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
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Physical ability to work assigned shift. Requires weekend/evening work to meet the organizations' needs.
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Work location is primarily in a temperature-controlled office/treatment modality with associated repetitive motions. Must understand and practice good ergonomic movements to avoid injuries.
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Must be able to travel occasionally with exposure to changing weather conditions.
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Job requires occasional use of office equipment and ability to correctly lift up to twenty (20) pounds on an infrequent basis.
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Physical ability to perform CPR.
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Job requires occasional and limited bending, twisting, kneeling, and reaching.
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Required to talk to or hear staff, clients, and/or others.
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Employee may be exposed to one or more of the following: disagreeable odors, chemicals such as disinfectants, cleansers, soaps, etc; latex, plastic and other materials used for personal protective equipment; noise and distractions; unpleasant sights; unpredictable behaviors; body fluids; contagious diseases; and/or wet floors.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
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High School Diploma or GED.
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Must be a parent/primary care giver with lived experience who has raised or is currently raising a child with emotional, behavioral, physical or mental health or substance use needs, has experience in navigating at least two child-serving systems.
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Must successfully complete Certified Youth Parent Peer Specialist training and exam upon hire.
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Must understand and endorse a recovery-oriented approach to providing services.
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Possess and maintain a valid Driver License.
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Good MVR acceptable to automobile insurance carrier for inclusion on agency policy.
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Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
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Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
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Bachelor's degree in a mental illness or related field.
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One (1) year experience with target population.
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Previously completed Certified Youth Parent Peer Specialist training and exam with ADMH.
This job description does not represent an employment contract. The job is "at will". Nothing in this job description restricts the supervisor or company's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
