Certified Peer Support Worker

Must be at least 18 years of age and older.

High School diploma or equivalent, and three (3) years experience working with youth.

Must have lived experience with substance use and recovery and/or homelessness.

Must have current certification for Peer Support Services.

Bilingual preferred.

Must successfully complete all required training for this position.

Knowledge of mental health and substance use community resources.

Broad knowledge and experience in working with individuals in recovery.

Must have no convictions for domestic violence, sexual offenses, or other serious crimes against persons.

Must establish an effective working relationship with YDI staff and other agencies.

Must provide linguistically and culturally relevant services.

Extensive knowledge of community resources and ability to work efficiently with public and private agency professionals.

Broad knowledge of assessment, service planning and service coordination in working with adolescents and families.

CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT WORKER: This position is under the direct supervision of the Program Manager. The peer support services are delivered by individuals who have common life experiences with the people they are serving (i.e. violence and crime, incarceration, homelessness, substance use). They will organize and coordinate an array of services for clients referred to the program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be at least 18 years of age and older.

High School diploma or equivalent, and three (3) years experience working with youth.

Must have lived experience with substance use and recovery and/or homelessness.

Must have current certification for Peer Support Services.

Bilingual preferred.

Must successfully complete all required training for this position.

Knowledge of mental health and substance use community resources.

Broad knowledge and experience in working with individuals in recovery.

Must have no convictions for domestic violence, sexual offenses, or other serious crimes against persons.

Must establish an effective working relationship with YDI staff and other agencies.

Must provide linguistically and culturally relevant services.

Extensive knowledge of community resources and ability to work efficiently with public and private agency professionals.

Broad knowledge of assessment, service planning and service coordination in working with adolescents and families.

JOB CHARACTERISTICS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This is a professional position, which requires organizational and communication skills, as well as judgment, tact, and diplomacy in contacts with YDI employees, community residents, parents, and local government agencies. Strict adherence is required to all regulations concerning confidentiality.

Good general health. Background investigation to include fingerprinting will be required. Physical is required upon hire and may be required intermittently.

Frequent travel is required by this employee and proof of satisfactory car insurance is required.

Non-traditional hours required.

Youth Development, Inc. is an at-will employer. Employment is by mutual consent of the company and employee, and either may terminate the relationship at any time with or without cause or advance notice. This job is contingent upon funding; however, availability of funding is not a guarantee of continued employment, nor does it imply any specific term of employment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES (Not Inclusive):

• Will coordinate all services with the Program Manager.
• Will work a flexible, non-traditional schedule to meet the needs of the target population.
• Will provide peer support services to individuals accessing all City homeless shelters.
• Will accept referrals from City homeless shelters, community-based agencies, law enforcement, schools, crisis response teams and all appropriate entities throughout the City of Albuquerque.
• Will respond to all assigned cases within the time frames specified in the contract.
• Will provide on-going client-centered case management and community health-oriented navigation to address the social determinants of health.

• Will develop and set a plan to provide aid and comfort to a person in crisis.

• Will provide recovery groups to build skills, self-esteem and confidence in achieving goals.
• Will provide community building opportunities for clients to build social skills and foster positive relationships.
• Will provide employability and job readiness skills training to build workplace skills.

• Will coordinate access to services for clients in the areas of medical, social, educational, vocational, legal, and therapeutic care.
• Will implement the service plan for each client which will outline the proposed plan of care.
• Will monitor and evaluate the provision of client services on an ongoing basis and maintain the client file in accordance with agency and contract requirements.
• Will provide advocacy and referral services on behalf of clients.
• Will provide family support services to identified secondary clients.
• Will work collaboratively with City shelter staff, YDI programs and community partners to ensure appropriate services are attained for all referred clients.
• Will provide all required reports as outlined in the Scope of Work.
• Will capture all required data and input data into the agency electronic data system.
• Will cooperate with all established Quality Assurance protocols.
• Will participate in individual and group supervision.
• Other duties as assigned.