Peer Support Specialist- Adult Behavioral Health (Kalispell, MT)

If you are passionate about providing high-quality care to individuals in your community, we invite you to join our team at AWARE.

AWARE is looking for the right person to join the team as a residential peer support specialist.

The support we provide helps the adults, children, and families we serve become active and vital members of their community while focusing on personal growth. We are a compassionate and fully engaged team that is dedicated to providing the best possible care to our clients. Our strength lies in our culture of care, and we are looking for individuals who share our commitment to providing unconditional care to those in need.

We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment where all team members feel valued and respected. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, as well as opportunities for professional growth and development. If you are looking for a rewarding career, we encourage you to apply to join our team at AWARE.

Responsibilities

Identifies individual needs through in-person contact with individuals, families, guardians, and significant others.

Records notes, billing, assessments, referrals, and other data entry assignments via AWARE’s Electronic Healthcare

Record System and ICP requirement, Therapy Program, Plan of Care - - being sensitive to age, gender, disability, sexual orientation/identity, racial, bi-sexual, transgendered, and ethnic differences of individual served.

Must demonstrate – on a consistent basis – the willingness and ability to productively utilize work time in order to meet the needs of the individuals being served as directed, with the understanding that specific fiscal goals (billing, case load number maintenance, weekly) must be met on a monthly basis.

Recognizes and utilizes AWARE’s Core Values, Unconditional Care Philosophy, and wrap around philosophy focused on family engagement.

• Assists individuals in Individual Support Planning process and identification of unmet needs.
• Participates in crisis intervention services with individuals.

Positively influencing the team culture by advocating for clients, promoting a friendly approach and encouraging the use of recovery-oriented language. AWARE Peer Specialists also work actively within the team itself to help build an environment that operates from a belief in the human potential to grow and an understanding of human diversity.

Support residents in strengthening their self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and community outside of the AWARE team.

Advocate with and for residents both in the larger community and on the team.

Understand, share and discuss multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences such as psychosis with participants and the rest of the AWARE team. Peer Specialists intentionally use language in the service of listening to understand and making space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.

Develop authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, sharing experiences, listening and collaborating with genuine curiosity and interest.

Help to facilitate engagement with AWARE teams by forging strong connections with residents and families, undertaking outreach activities designed to promote community awareness of AWARE services, encouraging help seeking, and at times serving as a bridge between team members and participants when they experience ambivalence about treatment.

Upon hiring, the Peer Support Specialist will undergo training and will be expected to pass testing in the following areas: H.E.L.P (de- escalation and therapeutic holds), Medication Certification, First Aid/CPR, Blood Borne Pathogens, Client/Employee Health and Safety, and Behavior Intervention Skills.

Maintain the Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (CBHPSS) certification as required by the Board of Behavioral Health.

Excited to join our organization? AWARE residential peer support specialists earn $19.75 to $21.92 per hour.

Requirements

Talents, Skills, and Abilities

It is preferable that the individual’s lived experience of mental health challenges includes experience with psychosis during his or her youth. However, personal experience with psychosis is not required.

Ideally the Peer Specialist is a young adult; however, a Peer Specialist of any age may be considered for the position, if he or she relates well to young people.

As much as possible, the Peer Specialist should understand the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources.

The Peer Specialist should demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants of mental health services.

The individual should have two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs.

They must possess the ability/ willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment.

High School diploma or equivalent required.

Must have, or be willing to obtain, a valid Montana Driver’s License. Must have an acceptable driving record and pass a criminal background check.

Benefits

AWARE proudly offers an excellent benefits package, uniquely designed to support you and your family in staying well, professional growth, and achieving financial security.

AWARE’s Benefits Include

• Annual raises
• Tuition Advancement Program
• Health Insurance
• Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Life Insurance
• Wellness programs
• Generous paid time off
• We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.