Peer Specialist, AOT

Responsibilities

Primary Job Function and Responsibilities

• Promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assisting individuals in identifying strengths; wellness goals; setting objectives, and identifying barriers;
• Attending treatment team meetings with the individual to promote the individual's use of self-directed advocacy tools; assisting the individual in goal planning and participating with the individual and the treatment team to develop appropriate interventions; assisting the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in community;
• Assisting individuals in obtaining information about their benefits (SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, etc.).
• Engaging individuals in other programs and services to encourage treatment compliance and healthy lifestyles;
• Modeling self-advocacy skills;
• Teaching wellness management strategies and helping individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in their personal lives; Connecting to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through situations, and to decrease social isolation;
• Providing education to other clinicians to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into service delivery;
• Providing resources and teaching transportation skills (teaching bus routes, etc.);
• Sharing his or her own personal story to model how to maintain mental and physical stability;
• Supporting individuals in making informed decisions about treatment, housing, healthcare, employment and building community connections;
• Building social skills in the community;
• Assisting in overcoming barriers to maintaining stability in the community;
• Assisting in obtaining the proper documentation necessary for the program;
• Assisting the individual in completing applications, benefits paperwork, housing, etc.;
• Exploring aspirations with the individual;
• Assisting in teaching skills needed to achieve treatment goals;
• Attending recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings with the participant if appropriate; and
• Assisting with financial wellness using tools for money management and asset development.
• Providing outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from the AOT Program.

Supervision and Consultation

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement

Record Keeping

• Maintains confidential files containing required information for each supported employment client
• Maintains documentation for those individuals receiving services
• Provides timely documentation that meets AltaPointe requirements.

Courteous and respectful towards consumers, visitors and co-workers:

• Treats consumers with care, dignity, and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families

Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.
• Attends to required in-service training and other workshops.

Qualifications

Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for no less than one year with a significant mental health disorder as defined by the DSM-V.

High School diploma or equivalent and ability to obtain Peer Specialist Certification through State of Alabama Department of Mental Health. Must be 23 years of age, maintain a valid Alabama driver license and an acceptable driving record, and have proof of current liability insurance.

Experience providing support services, and knowledge of the diagnoses is preferred. Ability to work as an effective team player is essential.

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers; as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of available community resources
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of basic living skills teaching methods