DESCRIPTION: As a part-time Peer Support Specialist, you will be asked to draw from your personal experience (as either inpatient or outpatient) as a person diagnosed with a mental illness and with the mental health service delivery system to make the system more responsive. You will support the development and implementation of mental health recovery processes that empower and honor the stated wishes of the patient community as a whole and individually. Through your relationship, you will support patients of DDPC in returning to a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life in their chosen community. Work is performed under limited administrative supervision. Peer supervision for fidelity standards is a requirement for maintenance of certification for this peer support specialist position. This is a contract position and does NOT include benefits. 

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS: 

·        Provide information, education, and mentoring about wellness and mental health recovery.

·        Encourage use of coping skills, advocacy, and values-driven decision making.

·        Facilitate group and individual sessions related to: healthy relationships, peer support, personal medicine, WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), wellness routines, living in recovery, and crisis planning.

·        In collaboration with the patient, clearly document interactions offered and patient response, including progress toward patient-defined goals and remaining needs.

·        Support patients in creating routines for meaningful, hopeful community living.

·        Explore and celebrate patient strengths, interests, ambitions, and values.

·        Educate staff and patients about peer support, recovery-based services, and opportunities.

·        Complete patient satisfaction surveys as requested.

·        Provide consultation on various hospital-wide processes and committees.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and terminology. Focus on abilities.
• Knowledge of the principles of normalization and community integration.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and staff.
• Ability to act independently in treatment modalities, document progress and report on observations made and suggestions for future intervention.
• Skilled at verbal de-escalation and crisis prevention.
• Understanding of multiple factors that impact functioning.
• Ability to implement recovery experiences in order to foster independence, promote physical well-being, enhance socialization skills, and meet patient needs.
• Understand the balance of treatment compliance and personal medicine.

·        Time management skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

·        A demonstrated history of recovery in mental health and/or substance use.

• Must have and maintain State of Maine Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist Certification or must be able to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• 6 months of experience working or volunteering (full or part-time) in an institution or community-based mental health/developmental disabilities program that utilizes a multi-disciplinary team approach.
• Candidates must also be primary recipients of mental health services and be willing to share personal recovery experiences as appropriate.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

 

 GENERAL COMMENTS ON WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT:  

• Must be able to work independently with potentially violent patients in a loud, fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Must be able to walk briskly, climb 3 flights of stairs, and lift 25 lbs without difficulty.
• Must maintain RAD, CPR, and First Aid certification as required by DDPC.