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Mental Health Peer Supporter
Job Description:
Job Title: Mental Health Peer Supporter
Location: Huntington Park and Surrounding Los Angeles Community
Reports to: Director of Workforce Development
FLSA Status: 36.25 Hours Per Week Non-Exempt; hourly employee
Hours: Full-Time, Monday through Friday including 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 all of the following:
- The Mental Health Peer Supporter will have the passion, knowledge and experience to implement and help grow the reentry team through reentry efforts and peer support services for program members.
- The Mental Health Peer Supporter is passionate about practicing PRPSN mission and values in all interactions and understands the importance of being a team player and maintaining a positive attitude.
- Outreach and meet with new sites for holding meetings and conduct outreach through flier distribution and cold calls.
- Facilitate support groups and document members’ progress.
- Provide One-on-One Peer Support connecting with resources and any further resources needed.
- Provides community based one to one support with members of the program, helping them get to and from important appointments using personal car and/or public transportation.
- Develop a base of peer volunteers to assist in facilitating support groups at partner agencies.
- Administer post-release needs assessments to determine services and programmatic needs of reentering participants. Identify and refer participants to community resources including housing, wrap around services for mental health and substance use treatment, public benefits, healthcare, etc.
- Review reentry plans to develop realistic goals and personal action plans to ensure successful reintegration and addressing the five (5) keys to reentry well-being: healthy thinking patterns, meaningful work trajectories, effective coping strategies, positive social engagement, and positive relationships.
- Assist program participants with obtaining and completing forms and documents necessary for transition (i.e. transcripts, birth certificates, state identification, social security cards) and navigate challenges that having a criminal background will present (i.e. employment, housing, transportation).
- Serve as a liaison between program participants, community organizations (i.e. transitional living facilities, parole officer) and family to ensure networks of support are communicating. Coordination will provide the best opportunity for success and lower the chance of recidivism.
- Represent the members and agency in community-based meetings, provide updates, presentations and relationship building. Build partnerships, utilize existing partnerships and serve as a liaison to other organizations and employers working on reentry efforts.
- Communicate with program participants to do wellness check-ins and progress updates on reentry and personal action plans.
- Facilitate classes focused on skills and topics necessary for successful re-entry (i.e. computer & internet basics, social media use, mindfulness, setting up banking accounts, etc).
- Collect and maintain accurate records to monitor the progress of program participants which include case notes on well-being check-ins, reentry and personal action plans, milestone achievements, attendance records, class progress and employment verification.
- Participate in staff meetings to coordinate information on participants’ release/parole dates, needs, and updates to the progress and well-being of participants.
- Collaborate and link with other staff and programs to ensure the delivery of services and referrals.
- Communicates effectively in a culturally competent and diverse member population and promotes favorable interaction with managers, co-workers, and others.
- Contribute to and supports a culturally diverse and sensitive environment. Maintains an open and cooperative approach. Provides an environment of acceptance that supports and respects people of different genders, ethnicities, cultural values, sexual orientation, race, language, religion, age, disability, family composition and socio-economic status.
- Maintains a clean, positive, and supportive work environment and a general spirit of cooperation. Is a team player who maintains effective working relationships and communicates clearly in a respectful and professional manner with staff, members, and outside agencies.
- Works cooperatively with others to assure the smooth and seamless delivery of comprehensive services to members, attends required trainings and meetings and participates actively in the community life of the worksite.
- 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 an ongoing understanding of the importance of supporting members that may present in a variety of emotional states and incorporating Harm Reduction practices and principles
- 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.
- Other duties as assigned by the Director of Workforce Development.
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 have Peer Certification with the State.
- 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
Job ID
32
Position
Re-Entry Specialist
Job Type
Full-Time