Peer Specialist

Flexible Schedule

The Peer Specialist at BAMSI will engage persons in non-directive and supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning.

Must have a high school diploma or GED. Must be a Certified Peer Specialist and have a personal history of recovery and a sound understanding of and commitment to the consumer-led recovery movement. Must have a valid driver's license in state of residence and own means of transportation.

BAMSI is a private, non-profit culturally diverse human services organization providing services to adults and children with developmental disabilities, mental illness, behavioral health, and public health needs. We at BAMSI believe that those we serve are capable of amazing things and deserve our best. We support them in their journeys and celebrate their accomplishments along the way.

We strive to offer valuable benefits that promote a healthy work/life balance and add value to our employees’ lives. Our comprehensive benefits include:

• Generous Time Off Package
  • up to 4 weeks combined vacation, personal and cultural holiday
  • 11 paid holidays
  • up to 2 weeks Sick Time
• Highly Specialized Paid Trainings including opportunity to earn CEUs
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Life, Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• 403B plan with discretionary match
• Wellness Activities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Career Development Opportunities

*Available benefits are based on position and scheduled hours.

General Statement of Duties: Engage Persons in non-directive and supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning.

Responsibilities:

1. Utilize recovery principals in partnership with Persons and members of the Integrated Teams to improve Persons’ health and wellness; achieve symptom stabilization and self-management; develop and/or restore skills impacted by their mental illness; live a self-directed life; and strive to reach their full potential.
2. Provide peer counseling and support to validate persons’ served life experiences and serve as a role model in which the individual’s experience with the mental health service system and current goals and desires are explored. Engage in non-judgmental, empathetic, active listening.
3. Assist in the implementation of treatment plan interventions.
4. Lead skill-building and support groups, as needed.
5. Act as an interpreter to help non-mental health consumer team members better understand and respect each individual’s unique life experience. Collaborate with Integrated Team staff and agency leadership to ensure that recovery values are endorsed and sustained.
6. Collaborate with the program team to promote a “team culture” in which each individual’s point of view, experiences and preferences are recognized and respected and in which self-determination in treatment planning is maximized.
7. Help persons served identify, understand and combat mental health and addiction related stigma and discrimination and help develop strategies to reduce self (or internalized) stigma.
8. Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of individuals’ rights and help them learn more about their rights, grievance procedures and providing support to file, mediate, and resolve complaints.
9. Assist persons served to cope with internal and external stresses. Develop and support the practice and use of individualized recovery tools and to connect to resources of their choice.
10. Assist the team in providing treatment that is non-confrontational and has individualized determined goals.
11. Provide on-going assessment, problem solving, coaching, skills training, support and environmental adaptions to assist persons served with activities that promote wellness, such as maintaining personal hygiene, assisting with meal procurement, money
    management, accessing transportation, health and dental care and other personal needs as identified on the Person's treatment plan.
12. Assist persons served in finding ways that are comfortable for them to socialize and be with others in a relaxed, safe environment. This includes helping find and maintain safe, permanent, affordable housing and other meaningful activities that maximize
    their interdependence in their communities as identified on the Person's treatment plan.
13. As a representative of BAMSI, communicate in a professional and respectful manner at all times.
14. Execute duties to reflect safety standards. Universal precautions must be utilized at all times.
15. Obtain required trainings within allotted time frames.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalency, Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Must be a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach/Certified Peer Specialist, or in the process of obtaining certification
  
• A personal history of recovery and a sound understanding of and commitment to the consumer-led recovery movement.
• Good listening and communication skills.
• Knowledge of mental health system, including comfort in dealing with both traditional and non-traditional providers
• Must have valid driver’s license in state of residence and have own means of transportation.
• Preference given to candidates with fluency in languages prevalent in Southeastern MA

We at BAMSI appreciate your interest and consideration of roles in our organization. BAMSI is an equal opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, age, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran or military status and regardless of whether the qualified applicants are individuals with disabilities. EEO is the Law http://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/poster.cfm Reasonable Accommodations for Applying/Recruitment Reasonable accommodations are adjustments made to remove workplace obstacles for qualified individuals with disabilities to apply for and perform their jobs. Applicants who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, may be eligible for a reasonable accommodation in BAMSI’s application and selection process. A request for an accommodation will not affect opportunities for employment within BAMSI. Arrangements can be made if you have a disability that requires an accommodation for completing an application form, interviewing or any part of the employment process. Requesting accommodations, in writing or verbally, can be initiated by a BAMSI employee, qualified applicant, or by someone acting on that person’s behalf. Either call 508-484-7171 or, send letter to Talent Acquisition, 15 Christy's Dr Brockton, MA 02301. Note: please do not use these contacts to follow-up on job inquiries.