Peer Support Specialist

Company Overview:

New Reach is undergoing an exciting transformation to bring the organization to its next level of success. Working to
provide shelter, housing, stabilization, and support for children, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness
across CT since 1990, New Reach inspires independence for those affected by homelessness and poverty. Using the
most innovative and progressive methods through a continuum of housing and support, New Reach has grown to be
one of the most effective nonprofits of its kind in the United States. New Reach inspires independence for all people
affected by homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing and support using the most innovative,
progressive, equitable, and inclusive methods.
Primary Purpose:
As part of a pilot project, New Reach is seeking a full-time Peer Support Specialist to provide person-centered peer-to-Peer Support services to households affected by housing instability. The Peer Support Specialist will lend mentorship,
guidance, and coaching care focused on parenting skills, household duties, educational system navigation, and daily
living skills. The person in this role will offer a unique level of expertise and ability to effectively establish a trusting
rapport with a client due to his/her own experience with homelessness, mental health, or substance use. The program's
purpose is to address underlying mental health challenges to identify coping skills and to assist with long-term
stabilization of housing. Services are voluntary and typically occur in the individual's home (if housed) or a community
location of the client's choice.

Essential Functions:

• Engage and enroll individuals who require treatment and family Peer Support services in preparation for
entering or maintaining permanent housing.
• Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths,
support, and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Encourage clients to use existing, natural supports and foster involvement in social and community activities.
• Teach clients to perform household tasks, provide instructive assistance, or prompt the client to conduct
tasks (e.g., meal preparation, routine household chores, cleaning, laundry, shopping, bill paying, and
participation in social and recreational activities)
• Provide instruction or encourage clients to perform basic hygiene functions.
• Complete initial Peer Support assessments with clients upon intake and every 90 days in collaboration with
Senior Clinical Program Manager and Quality Assurance to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Work with the social worker to facilitate groups for participating families.

•Assess and refer clients for clinical support and Verification of Disability (VOD) completion, as needed.
• Acts as liaison to community/state agencies in developing and implementing care plans for clients.
• Maintain ongoing client files, correspondence, and case notes, including person-centered service plans in
collaboration with caseworkers and the social worker.
• Encourage integrated services and support for individuals with substance use abuse and mental health
disorders.
• Continuously prepare the client for transfer of care to permanent housing and community-based support.
• Collaborate with the social worker to assist clients in identifying unaddressed needs related to benefits,
education, housing, medical, and other needs.
• Attend community meetings as necessary to represent the team, including Community Care Team Meetings,
CAN Housing Case Conference, monthly case conferences, and other meetings when appropriate.
• Engage with other agency Peer Support Specialists for mutual support and advocacy of leadership, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Expectations:

• Have a solutions-based approach to presented problems.
• Be supportive, engaging, and encouraging to peers and staff.
• Be adaptable to change and willing to take on more responsibility.
• Maintain strict confidentiality concerning any client's or employees' personal information, living information,
and/or HIV status.
• Provide a commitment to the values of New Reach: Professionalism, Integrity, Compassion, and Initiative
• Adheres to all New Reach's Policies and Procedures
• Regular schedule is Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Must be able to flex your schedule to work some
evenings to meet the individual needs of clients, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Persons with lived experience (i.e., candidates must have experience with mental health and/or addiction)
• Flexibility, professionalism, and a positive attitude
• Must have completed the DMHAS Recovery Assistant Training and have received the Certification or be
eligible to complete the certification process within the first 6 months of hire.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Possess at least a high school diploma or GED.
• Possess a valid Connecticut Driver's License, proof of insurance and access to reliable transportation.
• Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized
mental health processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability and desire to work as part of a team; identify with and support the mission of New Reach
• Proficient with the use of computers including software programs Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Publisher, and Microsoft PowerPoint

•Ability to manage multiple tasks at the same time.
• Work well under pressure
• Prioritize work without direct supervision.
• Comply with expectations as outlined in the employee handbook.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands
to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop,
kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25
pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to
adjust focus.