Youth Peer Support Specialist - Certified

Benefits:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.

Mission

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Youth Homelessness Demonstration (YDHP) Program Mission

The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is a housing-first initiative that emphasizes moving high-acuity youth experiencing homelessness into permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing while also addressing their current needs through an integrated team composed of case managers, a peer support specialist, and a therapist. This team provides services to ensure the youth, ages 18-24, maintain their housing as well as helping them work towards goals they create in relation to improving their mental and physical health, vocational or educational pursuits, building life skills, and connecting to the community.

Position Summary

The YHDP Peer Support Specialist will seek out and connect with youth within the YHDP program. This individual will utilize their lived experience to support and educate clients about accepting and participating in mental health and/or substance use treatment with the objective of promoting stabilization to secure/maintain housing, and other client led goals. The YHDP team is located at the Youth Resource Center, which is an emergency shelter and drop-in day center for youth experiencing homelessness.

Essential Duties

• Serve as a peer mentor to clients by offering a positive example of a person with lived experience who has been successful in managing their own recovery of mental health, substance use disorder, and/or experience of homelessness.
• Educate clients about community resources and harm reduction practices.
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary, utilizing de-escalation skills and trauma-informed care.
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with all resource center staff and other service providers.
• Attend weekly staffing/clinical staffing meetings; participate and present client information at said meetings to assist in developing and implementing individualized treatment plans.
• Utilize both internal tracking sheets and required case note web infrastructure in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by side services, and skills support to assist clients with daily activities.
• Meet with housed clients in their homes and provide ongoing support for them as they stabilize in housing.
• Attending work on a punctual, regular, and predictable basis.
• Be on call 3 times a year for the Youth Resource Center.
• Actively engage with clients by demonstrating cultural responsiveness and sensitivity.
• Demonstrate a proactive willingness to learn and an openness to critical feedback.
• Provide outreach and initiate contact with potential clients within the Youth Resource Center.
• Create and run in-house groups to support clients in connecting and learning new skills.
• Attend 3 staffing meetings weekly to work collaboratively with other members of the YHDP team.
• Perform other functions as necessary or assigned

Secondary Duties

• Provide safe transportation for clients to appointments related to treatment goals, such as housing, medical needs, and mental health needs.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of assigned office space.
• Attend community meetings as needed to enhance the work of the outreach team and/or continuum of homeless services.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

High school diploma or GED and any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Direct experience with homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorders and demonstration of a level of recovery sufficient to manage own mental health/recovery and function independently.
• Active Peer Support Specialist Certification or Participation in the State of Utah’s program for Peer Support Certification within 6 months of hire is required.
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute own work to ensure completion of daily tasks.
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Willingness to accept weekly supervision and ongoing feedback.
• Ability to move around the facility and interact with clients for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to pass pre-employment drug screen.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Must pass Utah DHS - Office of Licensing background screening for those working with vulnerable populations and maintain an eligible determination.
• Driving Required: Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record and be insurable on the agency liability policy.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed inside and outside of an office environment; must have ability to climb stairs, enter client homes, as well as deliver services in shelter, on the street, etc.
• Work is performed on-site due to the need to provide client care. 
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 30–50 lbs. 
• Must be able to assist with moving in clients, including carrying boxes, small furniture, or personal belongings.