APPLICANTS MUST BE CERTIFIED AS A PEER SPECIALIST.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

Provides or ensures the provision of services needed to PIR on a regular and emergency basis. Meets with team members and supervisor throughout the day. Accompanies PIRs to appointments in the community and to secure needed resources. Visits PIRs in jail or hospitals, as needed. Based on PIR needs: offers peer support and encouragement through relationship building; acts as an advocate and role model for PIRs (advocates with and for the PIR and teaches the PIR self-advocacy skills); provides education on wellness; provides community networking and linkage with social, recreational, spiritual, or vocational resources; encourages and supports participation in self help groups and provides specific information about various groups that may be helpful to the PIR; mentors the PIR; helps the PIR navigate the system; supports personal recovery goals and builds upon resiliency; and provides life skills (life skills are basic skills used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily life. This could be problem solving, accepting responsibility, money management, and honoring commitments. Self care skills such as: cooking, laundry, and shopping are also essential life skills). Peer Specialists engage PIRs, serve as role models, or help the PIR served to articulate his/her personal goals and identify ways to reach those goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Demonstrates competence to support PIRs in identifying personal goals for recovery and wellness.

* Demonstrates competence in helping PIRs to identify his/her strengths.

* Demonstrates competence in utilizing a problem solving approach.

* Demonstrates competence to provide peer support services as necessary and in locations that meet the needs of the PIRs served.

* Completes WRAP with PIRs.

* Demonstrates accurate and timely completion of all documentation required in accordance with the agency standards.

* Demonstrates knowledge of available resources in Philadelphia.

* Ability to uphold professional standards as a representative of the organization and manages case records following legal, procedural and confidentiality requirements.

* Demonstrates competence to understand and utilize appropriate interventions necessary to support PIRs in meeting his/her goals, including recovery and wellness.

* Ability to meet with PIR as needed. Completes hospital and jail visits, as needed and required. Spends time in the field with PIRs in securing resources.

* Ability to inform supervisor, staff and Clinical Director of any changes in PIR status or condition.

* Ability to work flexible hours that accommodates the specific needs of the PIR. Available for evening, weekend, and holiday work as scheduled by supervisor. Ability to perform and document on call functions according to agency policies and procedures. Participates in agency holiday coverage with scheduling of alternate holiday.

* Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs

* Performs other duties as assigned in support of the project.

Benefits

• Accrual Paid Time Off at the rate of 20 days per year
• Employer-paid health insurance effective the 1st of the month after 60 days of employment with an employee contribution
• 12 paid holidays
• Term Life Insurance coverage in an amount equal to one and one-half times your annual salary; maximum benefit of $200,000
• 403b retirement plan
• Long-term disability insurance
• Short-term disability insurance

APM is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

PM21 

* Degree preferred, high school diploma or GED required.

* Must possess a valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License and dependable transportation.

* Required to drive throughout Philadelphia for home visits and appointments with PIRs.

* Completion of the Certified Peer Specialist training.

* Must be able to use a telephone, computer, copy/fax machine and agency van and/or car.

* Required to acquire and maintain FBI, Child Abuse, Criminal Background clearances

* Experience working with individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders and their families

* Must have some understanding of the signs, symptoms and necessary interventions.

* Prefer some understanding of the effects of substance use and mental illness.

* Must have good communication and interpersonal skills.

* Completes WRAP within 6 months of hire or when offered by Behavioral Health Training and Education Network (BHTEN) or CBH.