Responsibilities
Primary Job Functions
- Participates in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectations
- Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social and recreational skills and to help participants develop insight into their mental illness
- Promotes recovery-oriented skills to help achieve goals created in the treatment plan
- Establish linkages that result in the participant’s active use of resources in the community
- Assist participants in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of participant when needed
- Assists staff and participants in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
- Serve as a role model to help staff in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
- Plans and conducts peer support groups focusing on topics related to recovery
- Other tasks as assigned by supervisor
Clincal Record Keeping
- Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
- Documents legibly and in a clear and concise manner
- Documents individualized participant responses to services provided
Supervision and Consultation
- Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
- Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
- Actively works to enhance skills
- Attends and participates in staff meetings as required
Courteous and respectful attitudes towards participants, visitors and co-workers :
- Treats participants with care, dignity and compassion
- Respects participant’s privacy and confidentiality
- Is pleasant and cooperative with others
- Assists participants and visitors as needed
- Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
- Is sensitive to the participant’s needs, expectations and individual differences
- Is gentle and calm with participants and families
Administrative and Other Related Duties 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 appropriate in-services training and other workshops
Qualifications
High school diploma or its equivalent
Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services for no less than one (1) year before the age of 26 with a psychotic disorder as defined by the DSM-5
Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment
A valid driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation and verifiable vehicle liability insurance
Ability to attend DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification; demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system
Knowledge of youth / young adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment :
- Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the youth / young adult population
- Knowledge of cultural diversity
- Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic participants, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices.
- Knowledge of a recovery-oriented treatment approach
- Ability to communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to connect to youth / young adults and share skills and knowledge with others