Description

Position Title: Peer Support Specialist, Massachusetts Veteran Connect

Department: Human Services

Supervisor: Behavioral Health Clinician, Massachusetts Veteran Connect

Exemption: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

The Massachusetts Veteran Connect (MVC) Program is funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services to provide outreach, case management, homelessness prevention and stabilization services and financial assistance to underserved Veterans across Northeastern Massachusetts in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex and Essex. This program targets Veterans impacted by poverty, racial inequities, domestic violence, behavioral health diagnoses, acute medical conditions and/or other disabilities that are barriers to self-sufficiency. Additionally, this program aims to identify and connect with Veterans who may not be eligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs funded programming to fill a gap in Massachusetts Veterans Services by providing a parity of services for all Veterans who may be at risk or currently experiencing homelessness.

This Peer Support Specialist works as a part of the MVC team to provide direct peer support services to Veterans who may be experiencing or at risk of homelessness to help them resolve their housing crisis.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide on-going guidance, coaching and support to Veterans who may be experiencing or at risk for homelessness and may struggle with substance use and mental health disorders.
• Work as part of NECHV and Pine Street Inn (PSI) outreach teams to conduct street, shelter and other types of direct Veteran outreach to form rapport and trust with Veterans to help connect them to needed support and services.
• Assist Veterans in learning about and connecting to community resources that will help resolve and/or prevent their housing crisis, provide behavioral health support and other needed assistance/community resources.
• Provide direct appointment accompaniment for medical/behavioral health care, benefits, housing, obtaining vital documents, etc.
• Provide recommendations to the MVC and PSI teams regarding strategies to find, connect with and support Veterans who may be hard to engage and underserved.
• Utilize a variety of evidence-based strategies such Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Strengths-Based Approach, Trauma Informed Care, Progressive Engagement and Critical Time Intervention, to outreach, engage and provide services to Veterans.
• Assure high quality completion of documentation, assessments and case notes in an electronic database by the deadline.
• Deliver the highest customer service experience to all internal and external customers.
• Attend and participate in department meetings, required trainings, clinical and administrative supervision, case conference and weekly team meetings.
• Co-facilitate groups, if needed.
• Take initiative to perform other duties as needed.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Veteran status with shared lived experience with the target Veteran population, such as previous homelessness or risk of homelessness and/or experience successfully accessing mental health or substance use services and supports. Demonstrated ability to overcome challenges and obstacles.
• Comfort sharing life experiences, as appropriate, to aid in developing therapeutic rapport and trust with Veterans.
• Experience navigating Veteran benefits and community based resources.
• Experience directly providing support to Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders and are experiencing homelessness a plus.
• Comfort with outreach (including street and community-based outreach) and/or working with individuals who have experienced homelessness, struggle with mental health and substance use issues, and maybe justice involved is required.
• A willingness to be trained in and utilize the following evidence-based modalities: Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Critical Time Intervention and Trauma Informed Care.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate professionally with Veterans, team members and partners.
• Comfort with electronic databases and computers.
• Comfort with crisis intervention and de-escalation.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License, preferred.
• Ability to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries.
• Ability to travel throughout Northeastern Massachusetts.
• Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and databases.