Peer Support Specialist

The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is looking for a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) to join our recovery team.  LVRM is a private, faith-based organization that serves our community by offering a safe place for men and women to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction. The Residential Recovery Program is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and is based on principles from the Bible, relapse prevention, and the 12 steps.

The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for advocating, supporting, and linking residents to all appropriate communities’ recovery and healthy living. The PSS assists Recovery Clients from initial engagement through transition into independent living, with follow ups post discharge.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with the coordination of clients’ intake, assessment, and engagement into the program.
• Conduct problem resolution and conflict resolution with clients as needed.
• Assist with any Service Project coordination or class facilitation as needed.
• Identify, coordinate and implement recreational activities and sports to complete with clients.
• Assist with Drug testing and room searches with other recovery staff.
• Collect class attendance lists to identify residents who are absent from multiple sessions.
• Assist with medications (i.e. med pass, assisting with obtaining new or refills, education, etc.).
• Work with recovery team to review all pass requests turned in by residents.
• Coordinating and logging the distribution of bus passes and/or transportation for clients needing to leave property attending meetings, church, etc.
• Assist residents with the move to transitions, work verification, financial responsibility, etc.
• Proper documentation of meetings, services provided, etc. with clients in EHR.
• Coordinate and log monthly payments (EBT/ personal).
• Responding to client emergencies as needed.
• Meeting with clients regularly to offer one-on-one support.
• Developing recovery plans, coping methods, and rehabilitation strategies with the client.
• Assist clients in working with their case manager or treatment team in arranging medical appointments, therapy sessions, support groups, and other resources to aid the client.
• Monitoring the client’s behavior, schedule, medication, and activities.
• Reporting any unusual behavior, conflicts, or recovery deviations to the relevant professionals.
• Liaising with family members and medical professionals regularly.
• Coordinating the client’s logistics such as medical appointments and therapy sessions, among others.
• Facilitating peer support groups (ex. SMART recovery, WRAP group, transitional groups, 12 steps, etc.).
• Engage client in the intake process including but not limited to: introducing them to their work therapy department, showing them the campus, reviewing schedules.
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery’s experience.
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting recovery persons to have their voices.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc.).
• Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.
• Maintain contact by LVRM phone and or professional email with recovery person after they leave the program to insure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnerships with others in the agency if needed. Document in EHR long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.

Qualifications:

• Minimum High School Diploma
• Peer Support Specialist Certification
• Previous experience as a Peer Support Specialist preferred

Skills, Abilities, and Special Talents

• Able to maintain a professional attitude in dealing with people within and outside of LVRM.
• Demonstrates behaviors aligned with LVRM employment policies and standards.
• Willing to be accountable and receive correction.
• Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Emotionally mature and resilient; capable of handling pressure.
• Good personal boundaries; able to maintain a healthy personal and professional life.
• Respectful of cultural diversity, and ability to interact positively with clients, other staff members, and agencies within the community.
• Good time management.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Able to empower clients to solve own problems, rather than doing the work for them.
• Experience using Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Able to teach and facilitate psycho educational groups.

This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week, offering a competitive benefit package and paid vacation.  Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

Please send resume to Jeru Lollis via email: jlollis@vegasrescue.org