PRPSN Career

Job Title:

Mental Health Peer Supporter

Job Description:

Location:  Huntington Park and Surrounding Los Angeles Community

Reports to:  Director of Workforce & Development

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt; full time 36.25 hours M-F some weekends and evenings

Hours:  Monday through Friday with some evenings, holidays and weekends.  

Under general supervision of the Director of Workforce & Development , the Mental Health Peer Supporter works with members to provide information, peer-to-peer support and/or self-help services as needed or requested. This position is reserved for an individual in recovery from a mental health issue and personal experience with the justice system.  

PRPSN is peer led, person centered and value-based organization.  We utilize person centered approaches in all aspects of our care including harm reduction, strengths-based language, WRAP and other best practices.  We operate as a high threshold and low barrier agency where we expect our staff to operate from our values regardless of how a member may act.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES: Please note that the duties may vary depending on department size, organizational structure and/or geographic location. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow individuals to perform the essential functions of the job. Additional duties may be assigned.  

• Work activities may include any or all of the following: 
• Helps to organize existing clubs/groups and provide assistance to help the meeting function smoothly.  Attends approximately 10-15 weekly support groups to provide support and coaching to the group facilitator, monitor program quality, and complete internal billing processes.
• Recruits, trains and supports facilitators and members as they carry on the activities of the club/group.  Helps facilitators through personal challenges and develops capacity by connecting them with opportunities for development of peer specialist skills.
• Ensures support groups have reliable facilitators and identifies new facilitators and new group locations.  Responsible for developing knowledge of the landscape of social services and mental health agencies operating in the service area, cultivating relationships with agency staff that help in facilitator recruitment, member recruitment and program development.  
• Must be able to travel between group sites, community meetings, trainings and headquarters office, and ensures all travel is completed in a timely and efficient manner. 
• Provides outreach to new facilities to inform them about PRPSN services and programs.  Provides outreach at various local health fairs and conferences in the mental health field.  Regularly attends Service Area Advisory Committee meetings to develop agency relationships.
• Maintains all records and documentation in accordance with PRPSN standards, funding source requirements and general accepted accounting procedures.   Responsible for training new facilitators on completing required billing paperwork and internal tracking forms. 
• Assists volunteer facilitators in revising documentation to meet bi-monthly deadlines. Responsible for ensuring paperwork is turned in monthly to PRPSN.  
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, monthly Supporter and Facilitator meetings, and works cooperatively with other staff.  Assists the Program Manager in developing new coaching tools and topics.  Assists in delivering coaching support during meetings.
• Participate in the roll out of recovery evaluation system for members in support groups.  Complete surveys for participating members on a quarterly basis, provide individualized reports as a basis for discussions about recovery. 
• Must have a desire to work with individuals impaired by extreme distress / mental illness and believe in an individual’s ability to recover from disabling mental distress.   
• Must verbalize an initial and ongoing understanding of environmental variables that may present while performing administrative tasks and/or providing direct services as an PRPSN employee (i.e. individuals presenting at the agency in extreme emotional states).
• Must exhibit good personal judgment, a non-bias attitude, sensitivity, and discretion when dealing with other individuals. Must demonstrate the skills and ability to “work and play well with others” interacting with co-workers, program participants, family members and community partners effectively and responding appropriately when experiencing interpersonal conflict with others.
• Peer Advocate Certificate/Training and demonstrated experience in peer support, peer advocacy or self-help.  Obtaining a Peer Specialist certificate within 6 months will be required for any candidate that doesn’t currently have one.    
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.
• Models PRPSN approach, mission and core values in all communication and correspondence.   

Skills:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The following are the minimum qualifications, which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Please note that the minimum qualifications may vary based upon the department size and/or geographic location. This position is reserved for an individual who has personal lived experience with the mental health system.  This position is reserved for a person who is recovery from a mental health issue.  

• Peer Advocate Certificate/Training and demonstrated experience in peer support, peer advocacy or self-help.  Obtaining a certificate within 6 months will be required for any candidate that doesn’t currently have one.    
• This position is reserved for an individual in recovery from a mental health issue and person experience with the justice system.  
• Demonstrated basic computer/word processing skills, including Microsoft office, email and other web-based applications. 
• Class C driver’s license, daily access to a car and proof of valid automobile insurance. 
• All employees that drive personal vehicles for daily job functions must provide proof of auto liability insurance of a 30,000 / 60,000 policy upon the first day of employment, maintain required coverage amounts and provide ongoing documentation of continuous coverage.
• Flexible work schedule to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. 
• Must know or quickly acquire extensive knowledge of local community resources. 

Physical Demands: In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow different individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Must be able to bend, stoop, lift, and push up to 25 pounds or a regular basis, stand and move intermittently throughout the work day.

Benefits:

Health Benefits
We offer a choice between two different HMO's, dental and vision care.

Paid Time Off
We offer a combination of 11 holidays, 2 weeks of sick time, 2 weeks of vacation time and 2 personal days off per full time employee

403 B Retirement
We offer a voluntary 403 B retirement plan for your future

Employee Assistance Program
We offer an EAP that is confidential and supportive for personal, family and work issues. EAP is available 24/7