Peer Support Specialist

Colorado Village Collaborative exists to bridge the gap between the streets and stable housing by creating and operating transformational housing communities in partnership with people experiencing homelessness.
The The Peer Support Specialist will provide assistance, support, and advocacy for program clients, identifying life choices and helping them overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. Focusing on the clients' strengths, the Peer Support Specialist will promote personal growth, development, and recovery. Using their lived experience, the Peer Support Specialist will support clients with the transition from homelessness to being housed. This position reports to the Peer Support Manager.
Schedule / Hours

• 40 hrs/wk, flexible with some nights and weekends may be needed
• Additional time will be spent in organizational meetings, meeting with external partners and coalitions, meeting with residents, etc.

Key Area #1 - One to One Peer Support

• Provides individual Peer Support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients' experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Helps clients identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental health, substance misuse and homelessness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
• Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness, and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
• Appropriately responds to crises as they arise in a trauma-informed manner.
• Solicits, listens and responds to client feedback about services.
• Assist chronically homeless individuals in transition into and maintain supportive housing up to one-year post move.
• Provides information and assists clients in skill-building activities, including Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP), goal setting, and problem-solving.
• Facilitates connections to substance misuse programs and to on-site/telehealth mental health resources.

Key Area #2 - Group Support

• Works to create a supportive working environment that encourages trauma-informed and culturally competent interactions that build collaboration and create a kind and respectful atmosphere.
• Provides group Peer Support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients' experiences, and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Engages clients in participating in the weekly neighborhood cleanups.

Key Area #3 - Data Collection and Documentation

• Maintains and ensures the confidentiality of all client information.
• Completes all necessary documentation including HMIS in a timely manner.
• Completes all required forms and reports in a complete and timely manner.

Key Area #4 Professionalism and Teamwork

• Understands and follows the related policies and procedures of the operations.
• Attends required meetings and regular supervision, focusing on mastering the core competencies of the Peer Support Specialist profession.
• Attends and participates in formal and informal staff meetings and addresses client and program issues.
• Provides excellent internal and external customer service and communicates in a professional, timely, and effective manner.
• Actively participates, collaborates, and contributes to the multidisciplinary team to promote a team culture in which each client's point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in service planning are maximized and supported.

Other Responsibilities

• Complete other special duties and tasks as assigned by management.
• We are a dynamic and growing team and at times everyone is required to do a bit of everything. You may be asked to take on other responsibilities from time to time, but these should not get in the way of your ultimate responsibility which is supporting the community and the individuals that reside there.

Requirements
Qualifications Summary

• Prior or current recipient of mental health, substance and/or homeless services, with the ability to role model recovery, and who is actively participating in their own recovery. Two (2) years or more in recovery is preferred. All pathways are honored.
• One year or more of volunteer and/or paid experience is preferred.
• Peer Support Specialist training can be provided along with State of Colorado Credential.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of being successfully housed is mandatory
• Experience in operating computerized office equipment and telephones.
• Reliable transportation is required.
• Familiar with Wellness Recovery and Action Planning (WRAP) facilitation is considered a plus.

Skills Needed

• Time management with the ability to meet a timeline
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Administrative Skills
• Conflict Mediation/Resolution Skills
• Ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and experience
• Trauma-Informed approach
• Creativity and flexibility
• Resilience and thick skin
• Anti-racist, anti-oppression lens

Salary Description
$42,000-$48,000 per year