Peer Support Specialist ACT

Mental Health Services

Peer Support Specialist: ACT

Every individual we serve deserves dignity and understanding throughout their journey. What better way to provide this than to have staff who have been in their position before and understand the road out of crisis. As a PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST on our ACT team, you have had personal experience with receiving mental health services and are willing to share your knowledge and firsthand insight to benefit the team and to assist clients. A Peer Support Specialist will use these experiences to engage with each individual in crisis, assist them with participating in ongoing supports and services and collaborate with them and their treatment team to develop an individualized recovery plan that promotes ongoing independence through supportive interventions.

This unique position is responsible for providing peer support to adults participating in our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program. ACT is a holistic treatment approach for individuals living with serious mental illness who may have struggled with other forms of outpatient treatment. Because of our community-centered approach, each member of the ACT team will meet with individuals in their homes and out in the community throughout the week to provide services that aid them in living fulfilling lives not dominated by their mental illness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Help clients and team members understand and identify culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and collaborate to develop strategies to eliminate stigma within the team and community
• Provide peer counseling and emotional support, drawing on common experiences, to validate client’s experiences, and to provide guidance and encouragement for your individuals to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Assist in the development of individualized treatment plans
• Adhere to HIPAA regulations and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Encourage clients to make good choices and achieve personal goals
• Collaborate with the entire care/treatment team, including outside agencies, to ensure comprehensive patient care and to better implement effective interventions
• Consistently act with honesty and integrity, while demonstrating a strong commitment to quality services and the interests of the clients served

BENEFITS

Northern Human Services encourages a healthy work-life balance, a family-first culture, flexible scheduling, professional development opportunities and an excellent benefits package to all full-time employees including: a 35-hour work week (unless otherwise listed), medical, dental and vision plans, disability, term-life insurance, 3% 403b employer contribution, flexible spending account, 11 paid holidays, generous accrued paid time off, accrued paid medical leave, loan/tuition reimbursement, an employee assistance program and so much more!

ABOUT NORTHERN HUMAN SERVICES

Northern Human Services is a non-profit organization, a DHHS state designated developmental services agency and the designated community mental health provider in the North Country. As one of the largest year-round employers in northern New Hampshire, we have over 400 employees committed to assisting and advocating for individuals affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities and related disorders in living meaningful lives within their community. It is the unwavering dedication of all our staff that drives our success; in turn, we are committed to a culture of opportunity, collaboration & fun. Our vision is to always be able to provide our services to anyone who truly needs them. If you would like to learn more about working for a peer-supported, mission-driven agency, we look forward to hearing from you.  https://northernhs.org/

This company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider.
Driving and criminal background checks required!

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

• A fully integrated team member willing to share their expertise about the recovery process and symptom management
• Good communication, motivated, self-directed, patient, creative and compassionate
• Ability to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment
• The ability to use effective crisis stabilization techniques that are calming and non-injurious to the client/staff
• A degree or certification in a Human Services field; relevant prior work experience; CPR certification