$25.18 - $28.96 HR/DOE
Join our Team! We offer an excellent benefits package!
3 weeks vacation * 12 days sick leave * 13 holidays* medical * dental* vision* life insurance * LTD * AD&D * pension * 403b * catastrophic & accident ins * 

This position includes a structured career ladder with opportunities for advancement and wage increases as requirements are met. Advancement is based on credentialing, experience, and demonstrated competencies.

Peer Counselors share their lived experience with individuals to create mutually supportive relationships based on trust and respect in an effort to increase empowerment and hope, improve personal success, provide opportunity for integration into the community, build linkages to needed community resources and begin to establish natural community supports. Work occurs in a variety of settings, including offices, meal sites, shelters, and the streets. They work as team members with other agencies, system and community partners. Peer Counselors help clients voice their own perspective and assure others are able to understand that perspective. Peer Counselors support clients with navigation of various systems, and support clients in building capacity for self-sufficiency and self-empowerment. They represent the client’s orientation and perspective in all internal and external agency activities.

This position will work with individuals enrolled in behavioral health services, both Medicaid eligible clients and clients in the Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program.  FCS is a program that offers benefits for supportive housing for Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries with complex needs.  This position will work with FCS eligible clients to help them acquire stable, independent housing and gain the necessary skills and resources to be successful and stably housed.  This position will also complete the necessary documentation needed for the time spent delivering these FCS services.

Universal job skills: All CCS employees will demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicate role, responsibility and agency philosophy in order to assure mutual respect, confidence and trust with the client and other stakeholders.
• Provide non-judgmental, unconditional support to the client, oriented to the values of peer work
• Promptly communicate with supervisor and ABH team of emerging client safety or crisis stabilization needs.
• Assure that clinical documentation, written and electronic, is completed promptly and accurately. The Peer Counselor I may have their case notes reviewed by direct supervisor for support and accuracy, and evidence of ‘golden thread’.
• Complete progress notes on time for each service providing a clear, concise description of the client’s progress towards goals.
• Customize helping approaches to fit the client’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest.
• Consult with supervisor on at least 1x weekly basis to address supervision needs, staff cases, and report relevant client information
• Maintain a focus on strengths, needs and creative solutions.
• Utilize the client’s expertise in problem solving and solution seeking.
• Work with clinical supervisor and ABH team members to accomplish team goals, and client-specific goals.
• Respond to client’s needs in a timely fashion.
• Instill hope for the future by communicating and behaving with confidence and reassurance.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with other team members and supervisors to manage triangulation and potential conflicts.

Welcome, Engagement and Assessment: The skilled Peer Counselor will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Communicate with clients and relate personal experience that will assist in building trust with them.
2. Assess and review the client’s ability to communicate their own position and preferences. Reassure and communicate hopefulness to clients and that “they are not in this alone.”

Peer Counselors may work with clients enrolled in Foundational Community Supports program will be expected to:

1. Provide screening and assessment of people seeking Foundational Community Supports utilizing needs assessment and prioritization tools as well Housing First/client-centered practices.
2. Assist client in developing a comprehensive Housing Stability Plan: Assess barriers to housing as well as the client’s strengths and needs and develop a strength-based and client-centered plan for housing and housing retention.
3. Provide 1:1 supportive services as outlined in client’s Housing Stability Plan and complete required documentation within established timeframes.
4. Attend Foundational Community Supports related trainings and meeting.
5. Attend regular staffing meetings to discuss Foundational Community Supports outcomes with other partners and community agencies that specialize in Foundational Community Supports Services.

Individualized Service Planning: Utilizing motivational interviewing strategies, the skilled Peer Counselors will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Assist the client in assessing options.
2. Reach agreement with clients about activities that will contribute to healing and support and assist in communicating that to others.
3. Review and analyze the plan and make suggestions for improvement/ modifications that would improve client participation.

Implementing Services: The skilled Peer Counselor will demonstrate the ability to:

1. In coordination with the Clinician and/or Supervisor, provide a range of supportive/helpful interventions and activities as agreed to with the client and documented in the plan.
2. Adapt activities and interventions to enhance focus on strengths, needs and creativity without changing the basic nature of agreements and plan.
3. Assist clients in analyzing progress toward vision and goals and encourage their feedback to their Clinician.
4. Communicate ideas by using own life as a learning and teaching tool (when helpful to client and plan).
5. Communicate progress and concerns to the appropriate co-workers also serving the client.
6. Participate in continuous improvement efforts by sharing perspectives in agency activities such as Quality Improvement reviews, staffings or other means.
   
   Transitioning Services to Natural and Other Community Supports: The skilled Peer Counselor will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Build knowledge around available resources and learn about effectively working with outside community providers.
2. Negotiate and facilitate transitioning to other services and natural support systems, providing contacts of who will be helpful, and providing follow up.
3. Reach agreement with the client about their transition.
4. Mediate agreement between the client and the agency about transition timing, when needed.

7. 7. HIPAA: The skilled Peer Counselor will demonstrate the ability to:
8. Responsible for upholding a culture of privacy and security in highly confidential  work environment (HIPAA covered entity service area).

1. Complies with all CCSWW policies and procedures that involve access to and safeguarding of client Protected Health Information (all forms).

Minimum Qualifications

1. Must have recognition as a Certified Peer Counselor or Certified Peer Support Specialist OR have the ability to receive certification within 90 days of hire.
2. High School/GED.
3. Lived experience with mental health challenges.
4. Availability to work flexible hours (evenings, nights, weekends).
5. Proof of negative TB test within past 12 months.
6. Obtainment of an Agency Affiliated Counselor License, or license in pending status (HIV/AIDS training required) within 90 days of hire.
7. Ability to obtain a CPR/First Aid Certification.
8. Applicant must successfully pass required background checks prior to an offer of employment.
9. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance.
10. Must have an acceptable driving record per CCS’ driving policy. (required to provide current driving abstract).
11. Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services.
12. Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork.
13. Demonstrate the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.

    Preferred Qualifications

1. 1 year exp working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and/or homeless populations.
2. Managed Care experience.
3.  

Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors.

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All protected classes are encouraged to apply.

Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.