Terrell State Hospital Hiring a Full Time Peer Support Specialist
Job Title: Peer Support Specialist
Employer’s Name: Terrell State Hospital
Location of the position: Terrell, TX
Full time, part time, permanent, short-term, contracted position: Full time
Organization description: Terrell State Hospital is a 316 bed, Joint Commission accredited and Medicare certified, psychiatric inpatient hospital operated under the direction of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The hospital, located in Terrell, is responsible for providing services for individuals with mental illnesses residing within a 19 county, 12,052 square mile service region, with a population of over 3 million.
General instructions to apply:
All applicants must pass: pre-employment drug screen, Department of Public Safety criminal background check, and Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Employee Misconduct Registry and Nurse/Aide Registry checks. If selected for employment, any applicant that has lived outside of the State of Texas within the two years prior to applying is subject to an FBI fingerprint check. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individual s with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview. Requisition #227580
Job role and purpose:
This position works Monday through Friday from 10 AM-7 PM with some variation for special activities/events and may be asked to work weekends once a month. This individual: Must have experience as a primary consumer of mental health services, preferably in a hospital setting. Must be willing to self-identify as a primary consumer in recovery. Works under the direction of the Director of the Rehabilitation Therapies Department provides peer support services to children, adolescents, and adult psychiatric populations. Will inform patients about community and natural support systems and how to utilize these in the recovery process as well as assist patients in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy Assists in the implementation of quarterly patient workshops Assist in in holding support and discussion groups in the Oasis and on the Units Will share and provide recovery-oriented materials as needed. Will maintain and ensure necessary documentation of Peer Support contacts in the patient record and in the Peer Support data base as required Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
Utilize active listening and problem solving skills to identify barriers to recovery and to develop a plan to meet their wellness goals Provide individual and group Peer Support contacts Instills hope that it is possible for a person with a mental illness to live a meaningful life and encourage others to do so Co-facilitate Mental Health Support groups Maintains necessary documentation of Peer Support contacts Provide necessary information to their Supervisor for weekly reports of Peer Support contacts/programming Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location
Required qualifications:
Knowledge of the therapeutic methods of rehabilitation therapy area of peer-to–peer interactions and the Recovery Model of treatment Experience as a primary consumer of Mental Health Services preferably in a hospital setting. Ability and willingness to self-identify as a primary consumer in recovery Skills in the use of equipment, tools and materials used in peer-to-peer support activities. Ability to provide peer-to-peer support activities in communicating effectively with consumers. Ability to provide information concerning peer Support activities to the community. Assists in the development of assertiveness and communication skills in order to facilitate the active participation of patients in their treatment plans. Assist patients to define individualized wellness and recovery goals Ability to focus on facilitating the development of self-help skills, support systems, and coping strategies. Ability to type at least 25 WPM.
Preferred qualifications:
Prior experience as a Peer Facilitator or Peer Specialist Knowledge of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).Knowledge of a variety of community resources Experience and comfortable with public speaking A working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel and the ability to use these programs in everyday functions and reporting. Bilingual (English/Spanish) or at least conversational Spanish skills
To whom the position reports (supervisor): Rehabilitative Therapy Director
Salary and benefits info: $1,975.83 - $2,864.91/month
Deadline for application: None.