Peer Specialist - Child/Family Zero Suicide Focus - Bilingual Spanish/English Preferred
Mental Health Center of Denver

Job Info

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WellPower provides you with the support you need to help you develop a career in helping others succeed. We innovate, adapt, and leverage the diverse perspectives of the people on our team and the people we serve in everything we do.

WellPower values and is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to ending bias and discrimination in our community and ensuring equity within all aspects of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, transfer, or promotion opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Peer Specialists strive to help people reach their own goals and live healthy lives by supporting them in identifying strengths and abilities followed by assisting them in articulating, developing, and creating personal goals for recovery through one-to-one and group sessions. Peer Specialists support the therapeutic milieu and assist consumers in accessing therapeutic and ancillary services.

Peer Specialist within clinical environmentshelp support children, families, adolescents, parents, and caregivers reach their personal goals and live healthy lives by supporting them in a variety of life activities, with a particular emphasis on those at-risk or impacted by suicide. Support and supplement the work of clinicians as they provide treatment and healthcare services to the people we serve. Share personal experiences about one's own mental health or of supporting family members in addressing their own mental health and navigating corresponding systems and resources. Offer insights regarding strategies, coping skills, and lessons learned in resilience, moving toward recovery, and well-being. Assist people we serve and their caregivers to move toward their own recovery & well-being. Peer Specialists follow the principals of Intentional Peer Support in an effort to facilitate autonomy, choice and mutuality in the peer relationship.

The Peer Specialist in this role will partner closely with the Zero Suicide Implementation Team as well as our Child & Family Services within WellPower. Additionally, the Peer Specialist may interface with:

• Clinical Sites/Residential/Rehabilitative Based Programs
• Community-Based Programs
• Social Impact Bond Team
• Rental Assistance Program

Participate monthly in the Zero Suicide Committee and contribute to decisions related to suicide prevention protocols; Contribute to various suicide prevention initiatives created by the Zero Suicide committee; Contribute to the monthly Harm Reduction training provided to all new clinical staff at WellPower.

Learn more about WellPower:

SALARY:

Peer Specialist I - $25/hr (high school diploma or GED equivalent)

Peer Specialist II - $26.04/hr (high school diploma/GED equivalent and has upon hire a Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification)

Spanish Differential - $2.50/hr

WellPower is committed to fair and equitable hiring with salaries based on relevant factors, such as work experience, education, and certification/licensure (rather than wage history). Toward the principle of equal pay for equal work, we post and hire within defined hiring salary ranges. We ask all applicants to carefully review the hiring salary range for each posted job opportunity, as we will not hire outside the predetermined range.

All full-time, benefits eligible employees will be eligible for WellPower's benefits plan. For a full description of benefit offerings, please visit: https://wellpower.org/workplace-of-choice/.

Responsibilities & Duties:

Orient persons served to programs, available services, and other general information about the organization and community partners.

• Participate in monthly Zero Suicide Implementation Team meetings and contribute to decisions and initiatives related to suicide prevention efforts across WellPower.

• Contribute to monthly Harm Reduction training provided to all new clinical staff at WellPower.

• Provide enhanced outreach and caring contacts to people we serve and their families at-risk for suicide or who have been impacted by suicide.

• Offer education and support to people we serve and their families from your own lived experience surrounding children and adolescents with mental health needs.

• Report clinical concerns and high-risk behaviors and safety issues as they occur to clinical program staff and/or supervisor. Follow guidance and directions from other clinical staff and supervisor.

• Meet with people we serve to discuss disposition plans, personal safety plans, and to create an informal opportunity for persons to address the fears and concerns related to trauma and crisis.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in Electronic Health Record - obtain National Provider Identification for billing purposes. Clear distinction of no treatment planning, formal counseling or therapy.

• In collaboration with other program staff, develop and maintain resource directory available to persons served.

• Assist clinicians in developing and facilitating skills groups.

• Support the people we serve and their caregivers in obtaining services that suit the individual and/or family's goals and needs, including community and natural supports as well as organizational supports.

• Assist in arranging and providing transportation for appointments and services.

• Promote collaboration and sharing of community resources for the people we serve: food, clothing, transportation, recreation, medical, insurances, housing, shelters and employment, as appropriate.

• Help identify each person's strengths, supports, and share problem-solving techniques - how to identify and overcome fears and combat negative self-talk/self-stigma.

• Attend program team meetings, trainings, and supervision as scheduled.

• Learn and maintain a trauma informed environment and help promote well-being.

• As comfortable, participate in the organization's and other efforts to reduce stigma, bias and discrimination, and misunderstandings about people with mental illness.

Requirements & Qualifications:

Education: High School diploma or equivalent.

Certifications: Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification or must obtain within 6 months of hire date

Experience: Personal lived experience with mental health treatment services and recovery or have been the caregiver to a child/adolescent receiving recovery services. 1 year minimum experience working experience in the mental health field and/or the social work/human services field.

Bilingual Spanish/English preferred

DRIVING: Valid driver's license preferred and must maintain a good driving record while employed..

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge or ability to learn and practice trauma informed principles and practices.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to operate a computer
• Good time management skills
• Consistent and reliable attendance Supervisory
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office

WORKING CONDITIONS: To assist with a variety of in the field activities, able to sit, stand, bend and reach, drive, operate standard office equipment such as computer/laptop/tablet, phone, computer/facsimile/ copier/printer, and other business machines. Household appliances and equipment. Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs (to assist with a variety of daily life activities). May be required to attend meetings at a variety of locations. May be required to transport people we serve in personal vehicle (will receive appropriate business reimbursement for business use insurance and mileage).

Why else might you want to consider working at WellPower?

• Named Top Workplace - we have been named a Top Workplace by the Denver Post for ten consecutive years
• Champion Social Justice Causes - we are committed to ending anti-Black racism in our community
• 9 Paid Holidays - including Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and more
• Robust Benefits Package - our benefits start at 30 hours per week and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and a retirement match
• Employee Resource Groups - our ERG's offer a chance to connect, address workplace challenges and get support from individuals who share similar characteristics or life experiences
• Gainsharing - we offer a bonus to employees if the organization meets certain requirements for the year
• $52,000/year minimum wage for all employees - we believe that our employees should earn a livable wage conducive to the cost of living in Denver, Colorado
• Free Licensure Supervision - for LCSWs/LPCs/LMFTs
• Sports Leagues - we offer a variety of activities for our employees, including bowling, dragon boat racing, volleyball leagues, and more

Tuberculosis (TB) screening, testing - TB screening and testing, is required and must be completed prior to hire ( i.e., preplacement), and maintained during employment

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