Job Description

Certified Peer Specialist - OCA
Job Code: 2022-SPECIALI-010
Location: Specialized Services
Department: Office of Consumer Affairs
FT/PT Status: Full Time

Job Responsibilities:

Position Summary: This position is located at Progressive Health Care Clinic. The Certified Peer Specialist is a person who has lived the experience of mental health, substance use or co-occurring needs, is in recovery, has had formal training in the peer specialist model of support, and has passed the State of Wisconsin certification exam or successfully becomes certified within one year of hire. OCA Peer Specialists work 1:1 with people who are beginning the process of recovery. The Peer Specialists utilize their own unique lived experience to engage the people they are serving and role model recovery during each interaction.

The role of the Certified Peer Support Specialist is that of a coach or mentor who through their lived recovery experience, can provide the guidance and role modeling necessary to promote wellness, purpose in life, develop relationships, and the insight necessary to move forward. OCA Peer Specialists support all individuals in the following goals: improve quality of life for individuals, promote individuals\' recovery, increase individuals\' ability to effectively deal with challenges and problem solve crises, increase individuals\' ability to manage stressors outside an inpatient hospital setting and assist individuals in navigating between system access points and levels of care.

Essential Functions: * Link individuals to a variety of self-determined supports and services, including, traditional mental health services such as case management, psychiatry and individual therapy, mutual aid support groups, natural supports and discover other kinds of healing and/or purposeful activities that may contribute to the recovery process.

• Have contact with individuals a minimum of four times per month; two of these contacts must be made in person.
• Provide 1:1 peer support service to people in the community (including their home and other community-based locations).
• From a recovery perspective, provide a strength-based review of an individual\'s abilities, strengths, and assets.
• Encourage participants to become the expert of their own lived experiences and develop voice and choice around service participation to be empowered in their recovery.
• Assist the individual in exploring goals and priorities and collaborate on the creation of a plan to receive support.
• Support participants in navigating systems of care and encourage the participant to communicate with other services providers to allow for maximum self-determination and dignity in care.
• Complete Crisis Plans and document activities according to DHS 34.
• Responsible for accurate documentation and maintaining case files as required by agency policy, government regulations, and applicable local, state, and federal codes. This includes documenting progress notes in the electronic health record (AVATAR) along with the Crisis Plan, as established by the BHS Crisis Plan policy. Will also be required to enter data in Progressive EPIC electronic health record system.
• Work with the participants\' collateral and community contacts to promote continuity of care with written and explicit consent to support their recovery journey.
• Participate in visits with the participant as necessary to engage them in the recovery process.
• Assist participants in their process of stabilization and recovery.
• Provide educational discussions with small groups of participants.
• Facilitate psychosocial or other self-help, recovery-based groups to engage participant in recognizing and understanding early triggers or signs of usage and assist in the development of prevention strategies.
• Active listening and positive communication skills.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings.
• Attend in-service training and conferences as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

2. Other duties will be determined by the supervisor.

Job Qualifications:

Minimal Qualifications: High school or GED/HSED required;graduate of state Certified Peer Specialist training; possess currentCertified Peer Specialist certification (If such certificationhas not occurred by hire, state certification must occur within the first yearof employment.); good written and verbal communication skills. Personalexperience with mental health/AODA and knowledge of recovery principles. Meetall WCS and contractor requirements for criminal and caregiver background,driver\'s record, and reference checks. Valid driver\'s license, automobile, andsufficient insurance to meet agency requirements is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities : Good computer skills; accurate documentation, ability to meet deadlines; knowledge of substance use issues and mental health needs.

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Wisconsin Community Services