Job Information
Horizon House Inc Peer Support Specialist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Horizon House is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity).
Returning Applicant?
Peer Support Specialist
Req Code: 2022:2180-003
County: Philadelphia County, PA
FT/PT: Full Time
Location: 2180-Targeted Casemgmt Sv
Schedule: M-F, 9am-5pm
Job Description/Essential Functions:
Horizon House, Inc. is a nationally recognized provider of services to adults with support needs due to developmental disabilities, behavioral health issues, and substance abuse. Horizon House is Pennsylvania's oldest psychiatric rehabilitation agency. Since 1952, we have been dedicated to helping people with mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions, developmental/intellectual disabilities, and homelessness to stabilize their lives and to help them live as independently as possible in the community. With over 100 locations throughout South and North Eastern Pennsylvania and the state of Delaware, Horizon House provides services to a diverse population focusing on individual strength and choice.
We are seeking qualified candidates for the position of Peer Support Specialist to function as a member of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team that promotes self-determination, personal responsibility and empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery. Assist Service participants with behavioral health issues to regain control over their own lives and their own recovery process.
Additional responsibilities include:
Serve as a mentor to service participants to promote hope and empowerment in their recovery process. Act as an informal educator to other team members to facilitate understanding and empathy with each person's unique and subjective experience and perceptions. Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which self-determination and decision-making in recovery planning are supported. Assist service participant's in identifying, understanding, and combating stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and develop strategies to reduce self- stigma. Work with team members to identify and understand culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and develop strategies to eliminate stigma within the team. Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of participant's rights and to improve their knowledge of service participants' rights and grievance or complaint procedures.
Job Qualifications:
A person who is self identified as having met the criteria for serious mental illness as defined in the Mental Health Bulletin (OMH-94-04) who utilizes or has utilized mental health and/or co-occurring services and has been trained and certified to help her/his peer identify and achieve specific self-determined goals. Must be a Certified Peer Specialist - certified by a PA State approved entity. Demonstrates knowledge of recovery/wellness principles and ability to model and mentor the recovery process and demonstrate effective coping skills. A high school diploma or GED. At least one year of paid or volunteer work; or any combination of experience, education or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skill and ability required. Ability to establish supporting trusting relationships with people with mental illnesses and respect for peoples' rights and personal preferences is essential. Good oral and written communication skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a focused interdisciplinary team.
Scope:
Frequent interactions with peers who are at different stages of recovery. May be required to assist with crisis intervention in emergency situations in an ancillary/supportive role educating and supporting peers in the development and implementation of WRAP and Advanced Directives. Light lifting and/or carrying, not to exceed 25 lbs. Local travel required. Flexibility in scheduling and available to do 24-hour on-call coverage. Horizon House offers competitive compensation an a comprehensive benefit package including: medical & dental, (9) nine paid holidays, generous paid time off, tuition reimbursement, retirement savings plan, voluntary tax sheltered annuity, transit benefit program, opportunities for advancement and more. To be considered an applicant, please complete the pre-employment application. Horizon House is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Veterans/Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.
Horizon House is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, Horizon House considers qualified applicants for positions without regard to race, color, religious creed, gender identity, marital status, military status, ancestry, national origin, English Limited Proficiency (LEP), age, sex, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, source of income, familial status, domestic or sexual violence victim status, LGBTQ, AIDS or HIV status, union membership, veteran status, psychiatric disability, other disability or other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodation is available during the application process upon request without penalty. Horizon House is committed to these principles in our employment practices.