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Vinfen · 11 hours ago

Lead Peer Specialist (Mental Health Services)

Lowell, MA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$53K/yr - $53K/yr

1+ years exp

Vinfen is a nonprofit health and human services organization dedicated to providing community-based services for individuals facing mental health challenges. The ACCS Lead Peer Specialist will lead a team of Peer Specialists, ensuring that adults receiving psychiatric rehabilitation services are integrated into their communities while promoting recovery and self-determination. This role involves providing support, training, and advocacy for individuals during their recovery journey.

AssociationHealth Care

Responsibilities

Joins with Team LPHA Clinicians to initiate and conduct intake process for all referred PS within 72 hours. Focuses on welcoming, orienting and engaging PS to support their understanding of services and support available. Builds a trusting relationship to promote the PS interest and active involvement in ACCS. When needed, works with PS on readiness for goal setting using established protocols. Helps person complete 8 Dimensions of Wellness Assessment and Power Statement at intake

Shares personal experiences; provide support, education and advocacy to PS; especially at times of service and life transitions; for example being discharged from a hospital, detoxification unit or respite setting, moving to their own apartment, or when facing life stage challenges – particularly for young adults and elders

Introduces and provides “warm hand off” for PS to other Team Peer Specialists for future work together

Maintains close contact with PS who struggle with initial or sustained engagement in ACCS

Engages PS in non-directive and supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning

Promotes healthcare and employment services access for PS

Promotes engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and successful completion of service for all PS

Helps maximize choices available to PS as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery and evaluation of their treatment, care coordination, and support services

Facilitates Peer Support groups. Connect PS with both psychiatric conditions and substance use/addiction to recovery tools and resources

Implements Peer Support-oriented Treatment Plan interventions with PS. Completes documentation only in accordance with Certified Peer Specialist training standards

Helps PS develop self-advocacy skills, individually or in groups

Provides information and training on recovery and self-management plans and strategies – including, facilitating the PS completion of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) individually or in a group

Assists PS in strengthening relationships with chosen family and friends

Assists PS in linking to other community services and build Recovery and support networks outside the service system – both actual and electronic, including services and networks for people with co-occurring disorders for mutual help and Recovery support groups

Provides on-going problem solving, skill training, and side-by-side support to help PS improve their daily living skills and abilities. Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies for PS

Teaches, consults and collaborates with Team members to ensure recovery values, language, and culture are promoted and upheld

On-boards, orients and coaches new Team Peer Specialists by using shadowing of experienced Peer Specialists, reviewing the application of Certified Peer Specialist and other applicable Codes of Ethics to the Team’s work, etc

Uses and models for other ACCS staff recovery-oriented, person-centered, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change; trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches to help PS think through their current life circumstances compared to their hopes and plans for the future

Performs, trains, supervises, mentors, and models evidenced-based recovery-oriented interventions for PS, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Housing First; Stages of Change and Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP)

Supervises Peer Specialists. Provide training, guidance and consultation to Team Peer Specialists to maintain integrity to the Peer role and adherence to Certified Peer Specialist and other applicable Codes of Ethics. Helps Peer Specialists problem solve potential ethical conflicts, support their voice of Recovery in Team interactions, and mentor each on how to be effective in their work as a Peer Specialist. Communicates frequently with Team Leader and meets with TL regularly to review performance and resolve any Peer Specialist performance issues

Leads the Team’s Peer Specialists’ efforts to organize and deliver Peer Support to PS

Visits all GLEs and SIE settings regularly to provide Peer Support

Facilitates Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups

Receives consultative and educative supervision, consultation and training from Vinfen’s Director of Recovery Services at least monthly, and upon request

Engages as a member of the Lead Peer Specialist Community of Practice Workgroup, led by Vinfen’s Director of Recovery Services, for continuous role competency development and learning, and to provide leadership with feedback and input in policy and program development and work decisions

May co-facilitate Peer Specialist Community of Practice Workgroup

Performs other related duties, as assigned

Qualification

Certified Peer SpecialistPeer SupportRecovery-oriented valuesAdvocacy techniquesPerson-centered approachCultural sensitivityCPR certificationFirst Aid certificationIndependent judgmentComputer applicationsTeam collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree from accredited school or Associate's degree required. In some cases, experience may be substituted for academic training

One to three years experience providing peer support to people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders required

Must become a Certified Peer Specialist within one year of hire

Travel to PS homes, group living environments, supported independent environments and community locations required

All candidates for this position must be at least 21 years of age and be able to pass a CORI, driving record, reference, educational and professional licensure check as well as a multi-state background check

All applicants must be able to become CPR, First Aid certified within 2 weeks of employment

Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for PS to have a full and satisfying life in the community

Strong commitments to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice

Knowledge of Peer Support practices and ethical standards

Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, principles and modalities

Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with PS by the program

Commitment to maintain confidentiality of PS

Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques

Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender differences of PS

Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques

Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of PS

Knowledge of community and other resources

Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team

Ability to promote psychiatric advance directives and relapse prevention techniques

Ability to balance competing priorities

Ability to make independent judgments and decisions

Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment

Personal, first-hand experience (not just having a friend or family member) being a recipient of the mental health system, which encompasses experiences such as psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services/therapy, experience with psychiatric medications, and/or participating in mental health groups in the community

A high school diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor's degree from accredited school or Associate's degree strongly preferred

Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle

A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment

Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position

Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift

Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer

Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways

Ability to assist PS with tasks of daily living

Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed

Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with PS, staff, and external representatives

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

CPR required within first two weeks of hire

First Aid required within two weeks of hire

Must become a Certified Peer Specialist OR obtain Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery 'Recovery Coach Academy' certificate of completion within 6 months of hire

Preferred

Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions preferred; must be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one's own health)

Access to an operational and insured vehicle and willingness to use it to transport PS preferred

Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants

Benefits

A fully funded, employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan

First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!

Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)

Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance along with the option to purchase additional, voluntary, Short-Term disability insurance

Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)

Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance

Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week):

+ 15 days of Vacation per year

+ 11 Paid Holidays

+ 10 Sick Days per year

+ 3 Personal Days per year

Educational Assistance and Remission Programs

$500 Employee Referral Bonus with no annual cap!

Other generous benefits including discounted YMCA memberships, access to discounted movie tickets and more!