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Form of workJob Description
Peer Support Services are structured and scheduled activities for adults age eighteen (18) and older with a diagnosis of Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. Peer Supports are provided by Peer Support staff. Peer Support Service is an individualized, recovery-focused service that allows individuals the opportunity to learn to manage their own recovery and advocacy process. Interventions of Peer Support staff serve to enhance the development of natural supports, as well as coping and self-management skills. Interventions of Peer Support staff may also provide supportive services to assist an individual in community re-entry following hospitalization.
Peer Support Services emphasize personal safety, self-worth, confidence, and growth, connection to the community, boundary setting, planning, self-advocacy, personal fulfillment, and development of social supports, and effective communication skills. Services emphasize the acquisition; development; expansion of rehabilitative skills needed to move forward in recovery.
Examples of specific interventions include:
Self Help: Cultivating the individual’s ability to make informed, independent choices. Helping the individual develop a network of contacts for information and support based on experience of the Peer Support staff.
System Advocacy: Assisting the individual to talk about what it means to have a mental illness to an audience or group. Assisting the individual with writing a letter or making a telephone call about an issue related to mental illness or recovery.
Individual Advocacy: Discussing concerns about medication with the Physician or Nurse at the individual’s request. Helping the individual make appointments for psychiatric and general medical treatment when requested. Guiding the individual toward a proactive role in health care.
Pre-Crisis and Post Crisis Support: Assisting the individual with the development of a personal crisis plan, and/or a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD). This includes help in developing the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). Giving feedback to the individual on early signs of relapse and how to request help to prevent a crisis. Assisting the individual in learning how to use the crisis plan.
WORK SCHEDULE: Work schedule will vary per assigned client needs.
