Veterans Peer Support Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

The Veteran’s Peer Support Specialist is responsible for assisting the veteran to accomplish defined goals, such as setting and keeping appointments, accessing social services, assistance in connecting to other agencies and navigating the therapeutic milieu.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                                     

Essential functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Educates veterans on elements of recovery through shared experience
• Supports veterans in developing recovery-oriented goals
• Participates in VA case conferences and calls for technical assistance as needed
• Assists veterans in identifying support systems
• Connects individuals to recovery resources and community supports
• Assists veterans in accessing social services such as housing, employment, entitlement benefits
• Helps individuals navigate the service system in recovery from access to continuing care
• Maintains contact with veteran which may include street outreach
• Recruits veterans from local homeless shelters using HMIS and street outreach
• Teaches psychoeducation classes
• Facilitates peer support groups
• Transports veterans to appointments as needed
• Expresses empathy and understanding through dealings with veterans
• Teaches and models healthy behaviors
• Empowers choice and ownership by allowing individuals to make informed decisions pertaining to their own life
• Breaks down barriers to change by meeting individuals wherever they are in the recovery process
• Responds to emergency requests providing crisis intervention services as appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Registered peer support specialist or ability to become RPSS
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Experience with Electronic Health Records
• Must currently have or be able to obtain a valid Driver’s License within first 45 days