Peer Counselor-Ay531501

Under the general supervision of the Program Supervisor or designee, Peer Counselors serve as role models, educate clients
about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience, teach
symptom management skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals and assist in the development of community
support systems and networks. The Peer Counselor assists assigned individuals in developing and maintaining viable living,
working and social situations in the community by obtaining needed medical, social, psychosocial, educational, financial,
vocational, and other services. Participates in the provision of crisis intervention services to participants. Travels to/visits clients'
residences or apartments to provide counsel and assistance and to help the clients, within their capabilities and interests, in
maintaining the greatest degree of independent living. The majority of duties are often performed independently under general
supervision. The Peer Counselor assists service clients through supportive counseling to participate as fully as possible in the life
of the community with the intent of achieving individual goals that foster personal growth and the highest level of independence
possible and desired.

ESSENTIAL TASKS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be
made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.
1. Travels to/visits clients' residences to provide supportive services on a schedule established by the program. Counsels
clients regarding plans for meeting service needs, and aids the clients to mobilize inner capabilities and environmental
resources to attain goals.
2. Educates clients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes
3. Teaches clients effective coping strategies based on personal experience
4. Teaches symptom management skills
5. Assists in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals.
6. Assists in maintaining up-to-date, accurate individual case records on each assigned recipient.
7. Assists in obtaining and developing resource information for clients in all aspects of their care; disseminates this
information to clients in a manner that is clear and understandable.
8. Assist the recipient in meeting service plan goals.
9. Helps facilitate individualized services to the recipient that meet the diverse needs of the recipient and focus on the
discharge-planning goal.
10. Explains the types of clinical services, and ICL programs available to clients; helps instruct the recipient in daily living
skills, socialization skill enhancement and conflict resolution.
11. Performs crisis assessment and nonverbal and verbal crisis intervention.
12. Assists in referring clients to community resources and other organizations. Accompanies clients on regularly scheduled
or emergency visits to medical treatment facilities, social agencies, government offices, or other locations associated with
the treatment or assistance of the recipient.
13. Advocates on behalf of recipient with outside service providers and within ICL.
14. Assists resident/recipient in finding and getting into vocational training or other training opportunities, and works with
other team members in addressing the needs of clients
15. Immediately reports serious incidents, serious incident allegations, incidents, or sensitive situations to supervisors.
Completes incident reports in accordance with ICL policy. Accounts for clients and files missing person reports on
clients not accounted for in accordance with ICL policy and procedure.
16. Complies with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.
17. Attends regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and
development activities.
18. Complies with agency infection control policies.
19. .Other job-related duties that may be assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:
Completion of an internship or comparable training in peer advocacy; experience in providing advocacy
services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless .
Past or current recipient of mental health, substance services or homeless services preferred.
Prefer candidates who have achieved certification in providing peer support

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
1. Ability to work with clients/residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of
and consideration for cultural differences.
2. Ability to serve as a role model to residents/clients.
3. Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
4. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, clients/residents, families, and the public.
5. Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.
6. Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others
7. Ability to work independently, and to conform to all applicable safety and accountability measures
8. Knowledge of how disabilities can adversely affect functioning and ways to cope with or overcome such
effects
9. Ability to read and write at least at a 12th grade level and to follow written and oral instructions
10. Ability to accompany or transport residents (some assignments may require possession of a valid driver's
license).
11. Ability to be empathetic and supportive to residents instructing, demonstrating, modeling, and encouraging
appropriate behavior and skills