Paraprofessional (2714)

Job Summary: Under immediate to general supervision, provides peer support services. May serve as a patient/client/consumer advocate. Provides consumer information and peer support in consumers in emergencies, outpatient or inpatient settings. Performs a wide range of tasks to assist consumers in regaining control over their own recovery processes. Function as a role model of competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills.

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provides peer support services to assigned patient/client/consumers.
• Serves as an advocate for consumers within the facility and the community.
• Participates in treatment team activities.
• Leads recovery dialogues/self-help sessions with consumers.
• Participates in monitoring of consumer support services and programs.
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading books, journals and the like.
• Provide transportation for consumers.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the clinical/service needs of all population(s).
• Demonstrates knowledge of and skill in the provision of age-specific care.          

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of working knowledge of the nature of serious mental illness; self-help techniques, provides enhance consumers empowerment skills and successful community living, community resources and information on specific topics, as assigned.

• Knowledge of consumers’ rights; agency and federal policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Knowledge of client record documentation requirements; and implementation of client services plan development.

• Knowledge of crisis intervention protocol.
• Knowledge of peer individual and group therapy techniques

• Observe, record and report on an individual’s functioning;
• Ability to read and understand assessments, evaluations, observation, and use in developing treatment plan.

• Ability to assist consumers cultivate their independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
• Ability to empower other individuals with disabilities to explore new options, resources, relationships, feelings, attitudes and rights.
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate with consumers and their families in diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, to maintain confidentiality, and to work independently under general supervision.
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal and “Listening” skills.
• Ability to Establish and prioritize goals and objectives of assigned program.

• Ability to assist consumers with successfully acquiring all income, entitlement benefits and health insurance for which the individual is eligible.
• Ability to facilitate relationships between Gateway, consumer families/legal guardians and various social service community resources, such as housing assistance, healthcare, job training and placement and substance abuse support groups.

Competencies:

Communication

Accountability/Responsibility

Cooperation/Teamwork

Creative Thinking

Customer Service

Dependability

Flexibility

Initiative

Job Knowledge

Judgement

Professionalism

Quality/Quantity of Work

Goal Orientation

Required Education & Experience: Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent and one (1) year of experience in advocacy or advisory or governance and one (1) continuous year as a current or former recipient of treatment (including mental health/substance abuse treatment or diagnosis) and eligibility for certification as Peer Specialist by the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  None

Work Environment:

This job operates in a variable business settings with trips into the community.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.  This role provides basic employment support which requires employee to perform in loud/quiet environments, outdoors/indoors, etc.  Some medium travel between Gateway sites and in the community is required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop.  Employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.  Must have the ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer.  Employee frequently uses fine hand/eye coordination, hearing and visual acuity.  Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are not hazardous or unpleasant condition caused by noise, dust, etc. Employee must be able to travel between Gateway sites.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.