MHUC: Peer Support Staff at Pathways Vermont – Burlington, Vermont

Peer Support Staff

Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC)

The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency committed to permanently ending homelessness and offering innovative mental health alternatives throughout Vermont.

Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people interested in providing supportive social services to Vermonters including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color.

The Program: Be part of this new collaboration in Chittenden County! The new Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC), like traditional physical health urgent care, fills the gap between emergency care and primary care. MHUC will offer adults over 18 years of age mental health support services, peer support, care management, and medical assessment/care in a trauma-informed setting, as a therapeutic alternative to emergency department care. These services are provided through a joint partnership with the HowardCenter, Community Health Center, University of Vermont, and Pathways Vermont.

The Role: The MHUC Peer Support Staff will be supervised and hired by Pathways Vermont. The MHUC Peer Support Staff will use their lived experience of trauma, mental health or substance use challenges, in combination with specialized training, to build genuine and mutual relationships with guests. MHUC Peer Support Staff will support individuals to live self-directed lives of their own choosing. The MHUC Peer Support Staff will not coerce or pressure people they support to participate in any service, including peer support.

Positions Available: 1

Location: In Person (Burlington VT)

Schedule: Full-Time (40 Hours weekly) 8:30am - 4:30pm

Supervised by: MHUC Team Lead

Application Requirements:

A Cover Letter and Resume are required with your application.

Responsibilities:

• Provide confidential and non-judgmental peer support services to guests at the MHUC

• Engage in relationship building/rapport building with guests and provide service utilizing choice-based, client-centered, harm reduction, and strengths-based approaches

• Support MHUC guests at the MHUC and co-create, organize, and structure the peer space

• Offer to attend meetings with MHUC guests with HowardCenter and/or Community Health Center staff and serve as a peer advocate in those meetings

• Maintain thorough understanding of MHUC policies and procedures, including emergency protocol

• Maintain written and computerized records, compile reports and complete other program documentation as needed

• Facilitate referrals to community services and activities

• Attendance at mandatory meetings and trainings is an expectation of employment with Pathways Vermont, unless excused by the employee’s manager/HR.

• Other Duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, homelessness and/or other life challenges, and willingness to share when appropriate

• Commitment to providing quality peer support; experience with providing peer support preferred

• Ability to share one’s own personal transformative life experiences

• Value harm/risk reduction as a philosophy and practice

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to form relationships form relationships with people who've experienced various types of marginalization, oppression, and injustice

• Sound judgment and good problem-solving skills, including assessing risk factors

• Self-motivation and ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Willingness to self-reflect, learn, and practice new ways of being in relationships

• Risk and discomfort tolerance

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

• Frequent talking and listening; frequent participation in exchanging ideas verbally and in writing

• Occasionally stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, standing and lifting of arms to participate in space organization and other activities in the peer room

• Rarely running or moving at very swift speed in an emergency situation

• Regular operation of a computer and other office machinery, including frequent typing

• Frequent utilization of close visual acuity and reading from a computer screen, must be able to read information captured in type and free hand form

• Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds

• Occasional exposure to high levels of noise and persons who are upset, angry or in an extreme state

Compensation:

• $21 / Hour

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance

• Long Term Disability/Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)

• 9 Paid Holidays Annually

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

• Employee Assistance Program

• Longevity Recognition Rewards

• Access to a wide variety of Pathways facilitated trainings including Intentional Peer Support

It is the policy of Pathways Vermont that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability.