Minimum Starting Hourly Rate: $16.11
Maximum Starting Hourly Rate - Dependent on Qualifications
Benefits
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Health
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Dental
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Vision
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Life Insurance
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Generous Paid Time Off - 7.69 hrs. per pay period
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10 Observed Company Paid Holidays
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8 Hours Annual Volunteer Time Off
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Retirement Plan w/ 6% Employer Contribution
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Employee Assistance Program
This position may be required to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This is a grant funded position, and employment is contingent upon continued funding.
The Peer Support Specialist (PS) is an active member of the Jail Diversion – Crisis Residential Facility and provides peer support services to clients with serious and persistent mental illness. Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the PS will function as a role model to individuals in recovery; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; and serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in an outpatient clinical setting. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to older adults, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. PS provide peer mentoring and support to consumers; model self-advocacy skills; provide information, referral, and non-clinical skills training; maintain engagement; and assist in identifying resources. This service includes interventions to facilitate recovery and documentation of the provision of all peer provider services, including both face-to-face and non-face-to-face activities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery.
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Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings and individual or group sessions. Through the use of role playing/modeling techniques, the PS provides opportunities for others to demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
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Facilitates ongoing group skills training sessions to teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears. As a facilitator of these sessions, the PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies, as well as share their own experiences and the skills, strengths, supports and resources they used.
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Participate in weekly team meetings as well as monthly supervision.
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Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual aid groups, professional services, etc.) that support the individual’s goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the individual, staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
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Assist clients in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve goals and self-directed recovery. The PS will support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources needed to aid them in achieving those goals.
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Document progress notes according to Center requirements and Texas Administrative Codes. Employees will maintain complete and accurate consumer medical records and keep all such information confidential.
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Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. The PS will continue to share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support recovery-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered.
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Performs related work as assigned.
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Central Counties Services incorporates principles of trauma-informed care, which includes cultural sensitivity, in all areas of service delivery. All job descriptions include the responsibility to learn about and implement trauma-informed practices within the scope of work for the position.
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Demonstrate high ethical standards, trustworthiness, and personal integrity. Regular attendance, dependability, and promptness are required for the 8-5 workday or agreed upon hours 100% of the time, to ensure consistency and completeness of program’s processes.
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Professional Development - Successfully complete training required to maintain skill competency and cross training to ensure consistency across program procedures. Complete continuing education as required by professional standards and the Center.
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Must stay compliant with all required training.
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Frequent daily driving within the catchment area is required.
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Staff member is expected to maintain their mental and emotional well-being as part of their role. An employee is “mentally fit” when their mental state allows them to perform the essential job duties of their job safely and effectively, which includes being able to concentrate, make decisions, manage stress and maintain focus.
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS
Experience/Education/Licensing/Certification
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High School Diploma or GED
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At least one year of experience working on recovery and able to manage own wellness
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Must be fully certified as a Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) and/or Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) through the Texas Certification Board. Candidates that have completed the orientation, self-assessment, and Core training are eligible to apply, but must be able to obtain full certification within one year of hire
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Ability to speak before groups and in community settings
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At least one year of lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use
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Transparency in disclosure of personal experience for the purpose of educating, role modeling, and providing hope to others about the reality of recovery
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
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Central Counties Services incorporates principles of trauma-informed care, which includes Central Counties Services incorporates principles of trauma-informed care, which includes cultural sensitivity, in all areas of service delivery. All job descriptions include the responsibility to learn about and implement trauma-informed practices within the scope of work for the position.
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Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
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Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
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Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
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Knowledge and skill sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness. Community resources may include but are not limited to Social Security Office, local recreation centers, library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, housing providers, etc.
- Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests.
Relationship Skills
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Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Work behavior must be compatible with Center value statement and Policies and Procedures Manual contributing to an environment of problem solving, building trust, conflict resolution, and customer service.
- Ability to perform tasks effectively and efficiently.
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Ability to plan and schedule work and implement directives without constant supervision.
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Ability to present a professional appearance and conduct when representing the Center.
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Ability to work cooperatively and productively with supervisor, individuals, co-workers, and groups of persons at all levels of activity, contributing to a strong spirit of teamwork.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other agencies and the general public using tact, courtesy and good judgment.
Additional Requirements
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Must have and maintain a valid drivers’ license with an acceptable driving record.
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Regular attendance and reliability is critical to business operations.
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Pursuant to Texas Health and Human Services Performance Contract Information Item V, incumbent hired must provide proof of a negative TB test within two weeks of employment and annually thereafter.
Other Duties
- This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Central Counties Services is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
