Peer Support Specialist

Certified Peer Specialist

Young Adult Mentors/Certified Peer Specialists will use the insight and learning experiences from their own recovery to assist, engage and encourage service participants. The Peer Specialist will help support participants with a sense of belonging through a supportive relationship that encourages them to address their own mental health while helping facilitate self-direction and self-worth. A Certified Peer Specialist works as an equal with the service participant to empower and motivate each participant through his or her personal recovery. The Peer Specialist will provide life experiences that help develop the participant's leadership, confidence and abilities to better one's own future. The Peer Specialist will assist the individual in developing a Recovery plan as well as help motivate participants to take ownership of their lives and mental health. The Peer Specialist will work as a member of a first episode psychosis multidisciplinary treatment team in the Adult Outpatient Program of Community Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview. The job is both community-based and clinic-based depending on patient and team need. Applicants must have a valid driver's license and be comfortable driving in Baltimore city and surrounding counties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

● Establish professional and supportive relationships with young adult service participants and their family members.

● Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries with participants, family members and co-workers.

● Share own personal recovery story to assist participants as they work towards mental health recovery and pursue their recovery goals.

● Assist participants in developing their own individualized recovery plans.

● Learn and provide evidence-based and trauma-informed behavioral interventions to improve social, problem solving, goal setting, and communication skills.

● Work with participants and family members within a model of mental health recovery and person-centered care in order to foster an environment of recovery, wellness, and hope.

● Learn and adhere to all administrative regulations and procedures in areas including confidentiality, reporting requirements, and documentation.

● Guide young adult service participants in making connections with their communities and, if appropriate, with one another in order to build their own support systems.

● Support participants to voice their opinions and concerns to the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) team and to meaningfully and effectively advocate for themselves in meetings, appointments etc.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

● Identify as a person in mental health recovery.

● High school diploma or equivalent required.

● At least 18 years of age. Young adult under the 30 years of age preferred.

● Obtain a state Peer Specialist Certification within 24 months of hire date.

● Ability to communicate effectively and problem solve with peers.

● Follow the certified Peer Specialist code of conduct and demonstrate cultural competence within the workplace.

● Ability to prepare written documentation in a clear and concise manner.

● Timeliness and flexibility in performing essential functions of position.

● Ability to learn and utilize community resources.