Veteran Peer Support Specialist CVHI

Description

Job Title: Veteran Peer Support Specialist -CVHI

Status: Full Time

Classification: Non-Exempt

Location: Eureka

The CVHI Peer Support Specialist reports to the CVHI Outreach Team Supervisor. Peer Support Specialists are Veterans with lived experience in recovery from a mental health condition, substance abuse, and/or military trauma who provide support to other Veterans who are in recovery, currently experiencing homelessness, seeking treatment, and/or dealing with barriers that keep the Veteran in crisis.

Job Duties:

1. Serve as a role model of recovery, communicating with clinical planning teams, and educating other community providers about peer support services. 
2. Assist Veterans in appointments, help veterans determine recovery goals, and assist in connecting veterans to available community resources, and may facilitate peer-led groups to help facilitate recovery.
3. Help veterans successfully engage in their treatment plans and advocate for veteran consumers.
4. Establish rapport and maintain a professional relationship and boundaries with clients and potential clients.
5. Conduct the referral process for participants to services such as housing, VA services and benefits, educational and employment, financial assistance, and legal advocacy.
6. Develop strong community connections between clinical care and other community organizations by fostering a therapeutic environment among clients. 
7. Responsible for preventing or de-escalating any problematic behaviors among clients.
8. Participate in case conferences, consultations, and staffing with appropriate staff.
9. Facilitate and/or participate in outreach activities.
10. Maintain responsibilities in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) standards. 
11. Assist in quality management activities, data collection, and preparing reports.
12. Identify and utilize community resources to meet client needs. 
13.  May transport clients to community medical, housing, errands, and other appointments and accompany peer support as needed.
14. Coordinate therapeutic, social/recreational activities and outings.
15. Other duties as assigned. 

Educational Requirements

High School GED or diploma required

Associate degree preferred

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Qualifications:

• United States Veteran with lived experience in recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and/or military trauma.
• Peer Support Specialist credential is required within six months of hiring. Current credential preferred.
• Must have access to a vehicle and a clean DMV record, current driver’s license, and vehicle insurance.
• One year experience in a social services setting.
• Experience working with Veterans, and/or Mental Health clients preferred.
• Experience performing outreach and making referrals to local services and partner agencies.
• Intermediate working knowledge of software systems, with required working knowledge of the following systems: Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Teams (or other video-based meeting platform), Microsoft Word, and Microsoft SharePoint (or other cloud-based file sharing systems.)
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work with a diverse population of Veterans, including those with physical and mental disabilities and addictions and those who are in, or need to be in, recovery. Ability to work with Veterans/clients who have significant barriers.
• Ability to conduct a general, non-clinical assessment of the physical, mental, and emotional health of individual clients, and concisely document that assessment.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality and personal boundaries within the Nation’s Finest policies and procedures.
• Excellent people skills, including the ability to motivate and lead while maintaining a positive cooperative rapport with staff. Ability to positively engage and motivate challenging clients. 
• Excellent communication skills, including writing that is accurate in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to develop relationships and collaborative partnerships with representatives in other agencies.
• Ability to organize and interpret data and information related to clients and program.
• Ability to form and work within an effective team.
• Comfort in a fast-paced, multi-task environment requiring consistent interactions with clients in varying states of mental and physical health. 
• Ability to maintain a positive and supportive disposition in the performance of job duties with staff and other service providers.

Physical Requirements:

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Handling / Fingering: Occasionally

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 25 lbs

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 25 lbs

See: Constantly

Taste/ Smell: Not Applicable

Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions

Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)

Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)

Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)

Work Environment:

This role will work within a regional area covering Sacramento, Chico, and Eureka. Team oriented office environment, and client facing outreach environments within the community. 

Offering:

$31.67 - $33.93 per hour, Equivalent to $55,992.56 - $59,988.24 annually, depending on qualifications and geographical location. 

Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision and life, 401K match, 14 holidays per year, and generous vacation accruals. 

Nation’s Finest is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.