Certified Peer Specialist – CARES AD

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

HOURS: Full time

CLASSIFICATION: Hourly

SUMMARY:

The Certified Peer Specialist – CARES AD (CPS-AD) will provide engagement and housing stability and substance use support services at a PSH site as a Partner for Home (PFH) Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) Permanent Supportive Housing team member. We provide supportive housing services in a PSH site that promotes socialization, recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, development of natural support, and maintenance of community living skills to a caseload of up to 25 members placed in a permanent supported housing site in the community. The CPS-AD will join a Housing First team formed to expand Step Up’s successful permanent housing model to the Metro Atlanta area. The team will assist adults experiencing chronic homelessness, co-occurring mental health, substance use, and medical disabilities to maintain permanent supportive housing.

Benefits and What We Offer:

• Opportunities for growth and professional development.
• Generous paid time off (13 paid holidays, 10 days of EPTO, 12 sick days).
• Competitive salary and benefits package. Health, dental, vision, Aflac, and life insurance $25,000.00
• 403(b) retirement plan available on the first day of work. After working 1000 hours, Step Up matches 3% of the 6% the employee contributes.

DUTIES: The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Direct Service and Support

• At a PSH site, provide substance use case management and skill building support services to chronically homeless persons struggling with mental health and co-occurring challenges to maintain Permanent Supportive Housing. Services include: conducting intake and assessment of substance use barriers, service plan development, linkages and referrals to clinical and appropriate community resources.
• Meets with assigned members individually and in group through home visits to provide skill building, recovery peer support and case management services and interventions and review progress toward recovery goals, and ensure housing stability.
• Comprehensive coordination of care including developing/maintaining relationships with community treatment providers to ensure ongoing clinical supports and successful transition to and maintenance of independent living.
• Support member’s vocational choices and assist with overcoming job-related anxiety and choosing positions that match their strengths.
• Assist members in building social and interpersonal skills that will enhance employment opportunities and job retention.
• Models effective coping techniques, self-advocacy skills, and self-help strategies and facilitate linkages to life skills groups and community-based recreational opportunities.
• Monitor members for warning signs of relapse, de-compensation and crisis, and coordinate with the treatment team to respond accordingly.

• Attend staff meetings, supervision, and training as required.

Documentation and Data Collection:

• Using the BIRP note format, document all services provided to members and collateral contacts on behalf of members as required by Step Up in Welligent and in the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).
• Responsible for tracking productivity, charting and documentation for all services, and file maintenance.
• Responsible for documenting all services provided and submitting paperwork promptly and accurately.

Skills:

• Demonstrated and thorough knowledge of Housing First and Harm Reduction philosophies of service delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate community resources applicable to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health, and substance use challenges.

Required experience:

• Certified Peer Specialist CARES-AD or Certified Addiction Counselor (CADC) with a minimum of 2 years related housing/case management experience working with chronically homeless adults struggling with a mental illness and substance use required. Knowledge of housing vouchers, providing services in community settings and documenting services provided using the BIRP note format preferred. Proficient use of Office 365 products required.

Required Certification:

• Certified Peer Specialist, CARES-AD or equivalent substance use certification; or
• Certified Addiction Counselor (CADC)

Required license or certification:

• Georgia Driver’s License with a good driving record
• Certified Peer Specialist Certification is preferred, but not required

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER