Job Description
Job Description
For more than 60 years PRS, now HopeLink Behavioral Health (formerly PRS), has provided comprehensive and specialized support to individuals and families living with behavioral health challenges or facing a life crisis. We envision a society where hope is universal. Through access to quality behavioral health, crisis intervention, and suicide intervention services we foster an inclusive community in which everyone can attain wellness and a genuine sense of belonging.
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF POSITION:
Under the direction of the Director of Youth and Family Services, the Peer Support Specialist provides outreach and support to clients in the TIP (Transition to Independence Process) Program serving adolescents and young adults ages 14-29 in Fairfax County with emotional/behavioral difficulties using a model similar to an FEP or ACT model in a creative, wrap around service. This position also provides information on the recovery process and will promote opportunities to enhance the ability of clients served to move into recovery.
The Youth Peer Support Specialist will work as part of the Transition to Independence Process Team providing support and guidance to the youth throughout their treatment. The Youth Peer Support Specialist engages with the youth by working on parts of the individualized plans developed by the youth and their family. The Youth Peer Support Specialist will work with the identified youth to develop their own team of supports (natural, community, and systems).
The Youth Peer Support Specialist will use their own life experiences to model for the youth how to navigate systems using their voice to meet their needs while developing natural supports within their own community to reach their family vision.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
· Provides outreach via phone calls, texts and community visits to active/inactive clients in the TIP Program.
· Conducts with project staff prescreening and engagement visits to potential clients and their families in the community.
· Documents outreach contacts and individual meetings in clients' electronic health record.
· Facilitates skill-teaching/support groups for clients in the program.
· Provides feedback to supervisor on individual and group work with clients
· Updates team on changes in level of functioning for clients served.
· Communicates to clinical staff the need for crisis intervention for clients served.
· Provides assistance and support in helping clients access the community.
· Provides education on the recovery process based on personal experience and program material.
· Represents staff in agency and/or community-based workgroups to enhance services provided within, and related to, the services for target population, as needed.
· Demonstrates knowledge and skill in computer procedures relevant to this position.
· Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· High school diploma or GED. Certified or Registered Peer Support Specialist preferred.
· Valid driver's license with good driving record. Must have a vehicle or access to a vehicle.
· High degree of empathy toward the project clients.
· Effective interpersonal and written communication skills including the ability to facilitate groups.
· Be a young adult (18 -24 years old) with experience handling complex emotional and behavioral needs. Have life experience which allows you to possess a diverse understanding of the struggles youth with complex emotional needs endure. Have successfully navigated child serving systems (mental health, child welfare, probation, education)
EXPECTATIONS REGARDING QUALITY OF WORK:
· Demonstrate the ability to utilize supervision to clarify clinical concerns and boundaries.
· Demonstrate the ability to problem solve with support from supervisor.
· Must be able to respond quickly to requests for home or community visits with clients and their families.
· Provide creative skill-teaching opportunities based on client need and utilizing personal experience.
· Provide creative learning opportunities within a group psycho-educational setting.
EXPECTATIONS REGARDING QUANTITY OF WORK:
· Facilitate assigned skill-teaching groups/activities.
· Outreach will be completed within 48 hours of request.
· Outreach notes will be completed for all five days of the week by Friday close of business.
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