Peer Support Specialist

The Peer Support Specialist will utilize their own lived experience with mental/behavioral health disorders and serve as a role model to school-aged young people. Display competency in developing and implementing coping skills and personal goals while engaging young people into services as appropriate. This worker will support the Wraparound Montgomery & MindCraft programs.   The worker is expected to carry out routine assignments independently within the agency’s program policies and procedures and within her/his scope of responsibility. The Peer Support Specialist directly reports to the BHSS supervisor and the MindCraft supervisor who reviews clinical and administrative work and offers regularly scheduled supervision as well as additional consultation on an as-needed basis.

Essential Functions:

 Peer Support Practice:

• Uses his/her personal story and lived experiences with mental/behavioral health disorders and systems of care to build trust and a rapport with the youth and to help the youth acquire knowledge and skills.
• Engages youth and families into services.  Offer an explanation of the programs and support engagement. 

• Actively participates on youth teams, encourage the youth’s full engagement in the care coordination process, and assists the team in the development of the plan of care.
• Provides support, encouragement, and assistance to youth participating in the process.

• Advocates for youth and facilitates linkages to needed services, supports and activities.
• Provides expertise and consultation to the team to promote a culture in which each individual's point of view and preferences are recognized, respected, and integrated into planning.
• Ensures youth “voice and choice.” Helps the youth to understand and express their needs, goals and decision and works to ensure that the youth’s ideas and plans for the future are listened to and incorporated in development of the Plan of Care.
• Provides empathy, insight, and support to youth using a strength-based, youth guided approach.
• Supports youth voice and choice by coaching youth in effective advocacy.
• Supports improved self-efficacy and confidence by helping the youth discover and articulate their talents and strength.
• Encourages youth to engage in positive activities.
• Promotes and strengthens healthy relationships by encouraging and helping with the development of supportive relationships in the community when requested by the youth (e.g., friends, neighbors, work, religious congregations, clubs and activities, etc.).
• Helps the team members and others working with the youth to understand youth culture.
• Utilize documents such as the Plan of Care to assist partners, youth, and families to stay oriented towards established goals

Consultation/Community Collaboration:

• Act as a resource person to other JSSA staff regarding community resources, case management functions, etc. as assigned.
• Provide consultation/education to staff of collaborating community agencies/schools as assigned.
• Have knowledge surrounding community resources applicable to the youth/family needs.
• Maintain current and appropriate knowledge of trends and development in mental health.

• Establish close working contacts in the community (e.g., school guidance counselors) to facilitate referrals, collaborative implementation of plans of care, follow-up, etc.
• Responsible for active community outreach and referral strategies/efforts as assigned.
• Represent JSSA at community meetings, coalitions, etc.; speak to groups about associated services. 
• Participate in significant and continuing professional activities and community work, which enhance peer support and recovery skills.

Administration:

• Submit all required forms and data according to established expectations.
• Participate in department staffing, case conferences/consultation meetings as appropriate.

• Attend all relevant training and engage in Peer Support Certification.
• Document all work as necessary in electronic health record and other tracking tools according to established expectations.
• Performs other duties are required.

Minimum Education, Licensure, and Work Experience Required:

• A high school diploma or GED.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) or at minimum, willing to engage in training and activities to complete CPRS certification in Maryland.
• 2 years of experience with families and youth
• Strong oral and written communication skills 
• Experience working with transitional age youth
• Experience with Microsoft Office

Starting pay $22-24 per hour

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has been helping people across the Washington metropolitan area meet emotional, social, and physical challenges for more than 120 years. A nonsectarian provider, we serve people of all religious backgrounds, races and ethnicities, helping the youngest child to the most fragile senior, from individuals to entire families. JSSA provides services and support to nearly 31,000 individuals a year through our wide range of counseling, educational, specialized employment, in-home support, hospice and nursing care, and social services. We are a growing Agency and strive to be an Employer of Choice. As such we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a healthy work-life balance, collaborative team environment and many opportunities for personal growth and professional development. We pride ourselves on our mission to be the first place for the Jewish community, as well as the community at large, to turn for clinical and social services of the highest quality that sustain and nurture all who seek assistance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. AA/M/F/D