Peer Support Specialist CARES

Job Description

Job Description

Hourly Rate: $18.34/hr

Position Summary: The Peer Support Specialist works with the MRT Therapist and the MRT Case Manager to support adults in the community struggling with mental health issues. The Peer Support Specialist offers the perspective of having lived experienced and helps advocate for the client, focusing on building a mutual relationship that fosters hope and optimism. The Adult Mobile Response Team works collaboratively with the Melbourne Police Department to provide crisis response. This position maintains information regarding the environment of current services to ensure a flexible, responsive, culturally competent service delivery system.

Technical/Functional Expectations:

1. One‐on‐one support (Essential Function): Provide one‐on‐one support and encouragement through stories of hope, recovery, and healing.
2. Goal Setting (Essential Function): Assist with setting goals and identifying positive environments and social connections.
3. Advocate (Essential Function): Advocate for active engagement in team meetings and services.
4. Mentoring and Advocacy (Essential Function): Provide mentoring and advocacy for client voice and the value of lived experience within agencies, communities, and systems.
5. Meeting Attendance (Essential Function): Attend Family Team Conferences, and any other collaboration meetings to help support the client’s voice to be heard
6. Other duties as required: Job performance requires fulfilling other incidental or related duties as assigned, assisting, and training others, and performing duties of higher rated positions from time to time for developmental purposes.

Behavioral Competencies:

1. Listening: Able to pay attention to others; listen without interrupting; convey understanding of others' points of view; clarify understanding of questions and objections before responding.
2. Integrity: Able to demonstrate consistency of words and actions; protect confidential information; practice what he/she preaches; do what is right even when no one is
3. watching.
4. Trust and Respect: Able to demonstrate and treat others in an honest and straightforward manner; keep dealings with others confidential; keep word and follow through on commitments.
5. Adaptability: Able to adjust approach when dealing with arrogant or inflexible people; adapt to changes in situation, direction, or people; adjust to needs of others without losing self.
6. Consideration: Able to show respect for the feelings or needs of others; show courtesy and make others comfortable; attentive while others are speaking.
7. Problem Solving: Able to exercise judgment in building realistic solutions to problems; understand the real issues behind problems; use common sense and take practical action to solve problems.
8. Sensitivity: Work effectively with and show sensitivity to cultural differences and various socio‐economic backgrounds of others.
9. Ethics: Adhere to and model principles and values of Agency and System of Care by being strength‐based, solution‐focused, maintains highest level of integrity and ethical standards and work collaboratively with employees, partners, stakeholders and clients in all interactions.

Business Experience:

1. Minimum 1‐ year consumer experience in the foster care and/or behavioral health system: This is required to provide guidance to the client and to be able to make recommendations, suggestions and to address barriers.
2. Experience navigating complex systems: This is required to assist, guide, and empower the client.
3. Computer Skills: Basic computer skills are required to develop talking points or presentations to groups.
4. Public/Group Speaking: This is necessary to speak to small groups, stakeholders, system of care partners and others about the needs and challenges of youth in the system.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

1. High School Diploma required.
2. AA/AS ‐ Associates Degree or equivalent preferred.
3. Former consumer experience in foster care and/or behavioral health.

Physical Requirements:

1. Sitting
2. Standing
3. Bending
4. Near Acuity
5. Reading
6. Speaking
7. Listening
8. Typing
9. Writing

Family Partnerships of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer, comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and maintain a drug-free workplace. The Brevard Family Partnership family of agencies maintain and enforce a drug-free workplace program.