Peer Support Specialist (Personal Services)

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for a full time Peer Support Specialist to join our Peer Services team, working in our Peer-led Youth Drop-in Center. A Peer Support Specialist provides support services and education to individuals via group facilitation, individual mentorship, community collaboration, and the provision of alternative activities. The Peer Support Specialist utilizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based model of support to foster and promote recovery and wellness with each client served.

This full time, non-exempt position earns a base rate of $22.00/hr. The hours for this position are Monday-Thursday 11:30am-8:00pm; Friday, 11:30am-5:30pm. Also, we are seeking individuals open to working two Saturday's per month as needed. Benefits are also included, which consist of 24 PTO days per year (accrued); 11 paid holidays per year; a premium-free employee medical plan with $100 per month HSA contribution (plus other affordable employee or family medical, dental, and vision options!); a retirement savings plan with 50% match on the first 6% of contributions, and much more!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide client-centered, healing-centered peer support services to diverse individuals who may have experienced chronic homelessness, systems involvement, mental health challenges, substance use challenges, a history of trauma, early pregnancy/parenthood, etc. 
• Promote recovery, resiliency, and accountability to help others initiate or achieve long-term recovery to enhance quality of life, health, and wellness.
• Meet with individual clients, as needed, to establish a safe, healthy relationship for learning, problem-solving, and participating in community activities; assists clients in building a network of support; makes referrals and coordinates client services, as appropriate.
• Facilitate support groups in community sites through the implementation of program curricula, experiential activities, presentations and discussions, field trips and/or skill-based activities.
• Plan, develop, and provide recovery-related presentations and outreach on a variety of topics, such as substance use and disease prevention/intervention, health/mental health promotion, trauma and recovery, community resources, relationship-building, and coping strategies.
• Advocate for clients within the community as well as internally to ensure that client needs are being recognized, represented, and addressed.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and community contacts such as referral sources, recovery community organizations, peer-run programs in non-recovery organizations, and other service providers.
• Maintain up-to-date online documentation of client services and contacts by frequently entering into agency database. Document client progress toward recovery goals.
• Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency. These requirements may pertain to data, paperwork, philosophies, processes, and procedures, among other things.
• Additional duties as they relate to recovery support, including but not limited to, transporting clients in personal vehicle, resource navigation, and instrumental support.
• Maintain approved non-clinical supervision and continuing education.
• Use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to assist clients in mental or emotional crisis.
• May collaborate with Certified Family Partner(s) and interact with families in alignment with the peer role.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a GED or HS Diploma and 2 years of related individual and group support experience.
• Requires obtaining state certification as a qualified Peer Support Specialist and completion of the Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Training within 6 months of hire.
• Requires lived experience with 1) trauma and 2) substance use or mental health challenges. Record of maintaining own recovery over the past 2-year period.
• Experience with databases; proficient level experience with Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel, and Outlook.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Holds Peer Support Specialist (Mental Health Peer Specialist, Recovery Support Peer Specialist) Texas Certification.
• 1+ years' work experience as a Certified Peer Specialist/Peer Supporter.
• Completed Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Training.

ABOUT LIFEWORKS
With more than 50 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, LifeWorks is committed to solving youth homelessness through housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. Our vision is a Central Texas where every young person has a place to call home, a sense of belonging, and the support to pursue a life they love.

We provide a full range of support services for vulnerable youth, ensuring that every young person has access to a safe home, the chance to heal, and opportunities to learn and work. Through innovative problem-solving, shared accountability, and evidence-based solutions, we are relentless in achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve.

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