About the position
The Attendant Care Worker/Peer Support Specialist provides quality, consumer-centered support services through a rehabilitation and recovery-oriented approach to assist clients in achieving individualized treatment, recovery, and personal growth goals. Utilizing both lived experience and direct support services, this position helps clients manage psychiatric symptoms, develop independent living skills, navigate daily life activities, access community resources, and increase community integration. Services are designed to promote recovery, enhance quality of life, support successful independent functioning in community settings, and prevent or reduce hospitalizations. Services may be provided in English and Spanish, as appropriate to client needs.
Responsibilities
• Assists clients in achieving individualized treatment, recovery, and personal growth goals through the delivery of quality peer support and attendant care services.
• Utilizes lived experience with mental health recovery to provide encouragement, mentorship, and hope while serving as a positive role model for clients.
• Provides individual and group services that promote recovery, independent living skills, social functioning, community integration, and successful daily living.
• Assists clients in developing natural support systems and connecting with others who have shared similar experiences through peer support, community resources, and consumer-run organizations.
• Supports clients in identifying, securing, and maintaining community resources and services through coordination with community agencies, employment contacts, and CrossWinds programs.
• Guides clients in developing coping strategies, recovery skills, and wellness tools, including identifying and responding to triggers that may impact functioning.
• Encourages clients to actively participate in treatment, make informed decisions regarding their recovery, and effectively communicate goals, questions, and concerns with treatment providers.
• Completes and utilizes recovery planning tools, including the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), to support personal and client recovery efforts.
• Observes and reports significant behavioral, emotional, physical, or mental health changes to supervisors and other appropriate treatment team members.
• Assists in maintaining a safe, supportive, and therapeutic residential environment, including meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, and supporting clients with activities of daily living and personal hygiene as needed.
• May facilitate psychosocial groups and skill-building activities designed to improve social, emotional, behavioral, and independent living skills.
• May assist clients with medical appointments by gathering vital signs and current health information and coordinating communication with clinical staff.
• May transport clients to appointments, community activities, employment opportunities, treatment services, and other approved destinations as assigned.
• Provides leadership, coaching, and hands-on support to help clients practice and apply recovery and independent living skills in real-world settings.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation of all client services in accordance with agency policies, licensing regulations, funding requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Completes progress notes, service documentation, treatment-related records, timesheets, and other required paperwork within established timeframes.
• Attends and participates in required supervision, staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities to maintain and enhance job knowledge, skills, and certifications.
• Adheres to all CrossWinds policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, safety standards, and ethical guidelines while promoting a culture of recovery, dignity, and respect for all clients.
Requirements
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Prior experience in the health and human services field is preferred.
• Must complete Peer Support Specialist certification training.
• Computer experience in Microsoft Office programs and basic computer fluency.
• Must be a consumer of mental health services with a minimum of one year in the active stage of recovery (i.e. does not require services more intense than medication services, individual therapy or group therapy).
• Bilingual fluency in oral and written English and Spanish.
• Ability to work with persons with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of recovery practice and wellness philosophy.
• Possess demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a member of a therapeutic team.
• Must have satisfactory results from KBI, DCF child abuse registry check, adult abuse registry check, and motor vehicle reports before hire.
Nice-to-haves
• Prior experience in the health and human services field is preferred.