Certified Peer Support Specialist - Youth Empowered Solutions to Succeed

Schedule: Full Time, benefits-eligible!
Pay: $17 per hour

Volunteers of America, Utah builds a community supported bridge that provides a path for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance.

Program Mission

To recognize and meet the distinctive needs of youth ages 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness by providing shelter, mental health care, case management, life skills training, connection to community services and resources with the ultimate goal of assisting all clients in obtaining safe and stable housing and mental health care.

Position Summary

To seek out and act as a liaison to youth ages 16-25 experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness. To assist them in accepting and participating in mental health, substance use and other treatments with the objective of promoting stabilization within the resource center and securing housing.


Essential Duties

• Provide outreach and initiate contact with potential clients. Serve as peer mentor to individuals or groups. Offer a positive example of a person with lived experience who has been successful in managing their own recovery of mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Educate clients about community resources and harm reduction practices.
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary.
• Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help and advocacy organizations.
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with all resource centers staff and other service providers.
• Participate and present client information at case reviews with a clinical team to develop and implement individualized service/treatment plan and complete paperwork in a timely manner.
• Attend community meetings as needed to enhance the work of the outreach team and/or continuum of homeless services.
• Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by side services, skill teaching support and environmental adaptions to assist clients with activities of daily living.
• Visit with clients who are recently housed and provide support for them as they stabilize in housing.

• Direct experience with homelessness, mental illness and/ or substance use disorders and demonstrates a level of recovery sufficient to manage their illness and function independently.
• Active Peer Support Specialist Certification or Participation in the State of Utah’s program for Peer Support Certification within 6 months of hire is required.
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, and execute own work to ensure completion of daily tasks.
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction.
• Ability to move around the facility and interacting with clients for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.
• Must be able to pass pre-employment background check and drug screen.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Utah Driver’s License and good driving record (21 or older, must be insurable on agency auto policy)
• Must be able to pass Utah DHS - Direct Access Clearance System background check

Benefits:
    Low cost medical coverage (SelectHealth), with a Health Savings Account ($300 quarterly employer contribution)
    Low cost dental and vision coverage
    $50,000 life insurance coverage
    Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
    Retirement plan with employer match
    Employee referral program with paid time off and cash bonuses

Submit resume on the career page of our website:  www.voaut.org/careers

Volunteers of America, Utah is committed to creating a diverse environment, where all people feel valued, have the opportunity to do their personal best and where leadership development is fostered. The organization is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs without regard to race, ethnicity, skin color, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and developmental abilities, physical ability or religious belief. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.