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Center for Life Management’s Acute Care Department provides telephone crisis assessment, family consultation, emergency assessment, regional rapid response, crisis stabilization, and hospital coordination for admittance and discharge, as medically necessary, to youth, adults and elders. Our services are specifically aimed at diverting individuals from emergency room care, unnecessary hospitalizations, and incarceration by collaborating with first responders, health care providers and community-based agencies to stabilize a psychiatric crisis and initiate immediate treatment.

The Acute Care Services Mobile Crisis Peer Support Specialist on this multi-disciplinary team will transform our mental health system and build strong connections with our clients through skillful use of lived experience. They will be cross-trained in Mobile Crisis Rapid Response in event of team coverage. This position works part-time, 20 hour per week between Monday – Friday and is considered non-exempt in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Major Functional Areas and Description of Duties

• Provide perspective and understanding of client’s experiences including: symptoms of mental illness, effects and side-effects of medications, responses to and opinions of treatment, self and culture-wide stigma and discrimination, and experiences of recovery;
• Provide peer counseling to promote hope, responsibility, effective decision making, active participation in treatment and recovery processes, and participation in consumer self-help programs/consumer advocacy organizations;
• Utilize a framework of Trauma-Informed Care and actively seek to determine whether the client has experienced trauma so that effective implementation of support can be applied;
• Be a role model and inspire recovery by instilling hope, building trust, demonstrating empathy, being present, and listening to client’s needs to set client-centered goals, collaborate on care, answer questions about and foster engagement in treatment;
• Link client and/or natural supports with appropriate community mental health resources that best fit the presenting problems as well as level of motivation and stage of change;
• Maintain contact with clients for a set period of time after a crisis to ensure connection has been made with agreed upon referral sources and additional education/supports are provided beyond the immediate amelioration of the crisis;
• Provide set hours of billable service each week to meet 35% of direct, service key performance indicator expectations;
• Follow all SAMHSA Core Competencies of Peer Support;
• Work collaboratively with other treatment team members, natural supports, and external providers to ensure a wrap-around care is provided to the client;
• Serve on appropriate committees, both internal and external, as determined by supervisor;
• Function professionally and in a manner that protects the integrity, confidentiality and rights of all patients;
• Execute all required services and timely documentation in accordance with agency policies and federal/state standards;
• Maintain professional memberships, licenses, accreditation, certifications, etc.;
• Represent CLM in a professional and appropriate manner in all settings;
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Skills

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in a human services or related field preferred however a high school diploma or equivalent, or at least two years of paid or volunteer experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses will be considered;
• Have self-knowledge to manage one’s own mental illness and be well along in their recovery (at least one year or greater in recovery, absent of any psychiatric crisis or hospitalization);
• Strong commitment to the right and the ability of each person with a severe mental illness to live in normal community residences, work in market jobs, and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services;
• Must be certified as a Peer Specialist or Recovery Coach, and eligible for Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW) and Intentional Peer Support certificates;
• Ability to exercise sound clinical judgment in routine, urgent, and emergent clinical situations;
• Proficient computer skills, specifically with all Microsoft office applications;
• Ability to document effectively and efficiently in course of work;
• Ability to navigate an electronic health record;
• Ability and desire to work as part of a clinical team while also able to be self-directed and motivated with minimal supervision;
• Ability to acquire and effectively practice new clinical skills as needed according to evolving agency needs/services;
• Effective communication skills, organizational skills, and ability to multi-task.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The work takes place in a variety of settings to include office-based, client’s home, community and/or remote. May need to transport clients at times when deemed safe to do so. Manual dexterity is needed to use computers and standard office equipment. The ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time is required. Reliable internet access, transportation, a clean driving record, and proof of auto insurance coverage is required.