Certified Peer Specialist - Youth (Cps-Y) - Apex Gwinnett - Lawrenceville, Ga.

Peer Specialists strive to help people reach their own goals and live healthy lives by supporting them in identifying strengths and abilities followed by assisting them in articulating, developing, and creating personal goals for recovery through one-to-one and group sessions.  Peer Specialists support the therapeutic milieu and assist consumers in accessing therapeutic and ancillary services.

The Peer Specialist assists people served with daily decision-making and minor problem-solving skills.  Provides emotional support and encouragement and models appropriate behavior and social interactions. Observes and monitors participants' behavior in the course of daily activities. Intervenes and diffuses potentially disruptive situations using established guidelines.  Refers concerns to appropriate staff as needed.  Charts observations and incidents.  Assists with evaluation of functional levels of participants.  Works with other team members to determine appropriate individual goals and objectives and to develop individualized plans for participants.

Under direct supervision, assists with daily living activities at the person's home, in a daytime non-residential facility or a residential facility. Provides training of basic personal and social skills, simple academics, or work skills to consumers/students in a state school, hospital, juvenile detention facility, residence, group home, workshop, or supported employment environment.

Duties& Responsibilities:

• Assists participants with accessing community resources and developing self-advocacy skills.
• Assists with teaching daily living/social skills, such as cooking, hygiene, med management, starting and maintaining friendships, etc.  
• Teaches coping skills to manage symptoms of mental illness as well as life stressors.  
• Assists participants with preparation to co-lead groups on planned topics related to treatment and recovery goals. 
• Presents educational group lectures as assigned. 
• Under close supervision, assists with provision of support services, such as case management and supportive guidance.
• Participates in staff supervision sessions, program planning meetings, participant staffing, and in-service training.
• Assesses participants' recreational options and existing community activities. 
• Plans and participates in recreational activities that foster community integration and healthy relationships.
• Documents participant activities and progress on appropriate forms with established procedures and within established time frames.
• Complies with agency rules and policies on confidentiality and as an agency employee, maintains required boundaries with program participants.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED AND any combination of training and experience, which would have enabled the applicant to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities
• Must be credentialed as a Certified Peer Specialist ~ Youth (CPS~Y) or eligible for CPS~Y certification and prepared to apply for certificate training program.
• Be 18-26 years of age (valid Georgia ID)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a mental health (MH) condition, substance use disorder (SUD), or a co-occurring diagnosis; and a strong desire to identify themselves as a person living with a mental illness or substance use diagnosis
• Be able/willing to actively seek and manage your own appropriate care; and
• Be able to share their own personal story in a safe and appropriate way.
• Must be well grounded in recovery wellness.
• One year between diagnosis and application to training If the individual has a substance use condition, there must be one year continuous abstinent from substance us.
• Must be a current or former recipient of behavioral health services, with Certification as CPS.
• Good communication skills
• Good time management skills
• Consistent and reliable attendance

Requirements/Competencies:

• Must be Certified as Peer Specialist Youth
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have valid Georgia driver's license and Motor Vehicle Record in accordance with company policy.
• Self-motivated
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds.
• Must be able to respond quickly to sounds.
• Must be able to stand, sit, and kneel for long periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, move about, hear and speak. 
• Willing to work flexible hours.
• Candidates for selection must pass a criminal background check (including fingerprinting)
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and subject to random drug screens

Benefits (for qualified employees):

• State Health Benefits Package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, long-term care, legal services, flexible spending accounts)
• Paid New Hire Training
• Company contributes additional 7.5% of salary to 401(a) Retirement Plan
• No employee deduction for Social Security
• Additional benefits such as legal services, Employee Assistance Program and discounted tickets to attractions, shopping, technology and travel
• Supervision, training, and continuing education opportunities available

View Point Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer:  View Point Health recruits qualified candidates for positions in View Point Health programs throughout its service area.  It is the policy of View Point Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.