PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST - 40010877

Durham County Government employs approximately 1,900 employees that work towards providing needed services throughout the community. With a wide array of services, Durham County Government is at the heart of a rapidly growing and diverse area offering residents, employees and visitors exciting opportunities to live, work, grow and play. For more information about Durham County Government, visit www.dconc.gov.

***THIS IS A GRANTED FUNDED POSITION AND SUBJECT TO RENEWAL (FR-CARA Grant).***

**THIS POSTING IS SUBJECT TO CLOSE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION**

General Description:

The Peer Support Specialist will provide guidance and support to individuals struggling with substance abuse, psychological trauma and /or mental health issues. This position assists in implementing/creating a recovery environment and acts as an advocate for the needs and rights of the client. This position will assist Community Paramedics, Case Managers, Substance Use Disorder Counselors or Mental Health staff with getting the client connected to community resources to ensure continuity of care for their identified needs.
 

This position works under general supervision of the EMS Program Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary

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• Respond to dispatched overdose calls in Durham County while on duty and provide harm reduction resources real-time.

• Conduct client outreach and follow-up with the clients in the community.

• Meet with cleints regularly to provide one on one counsleig and support.

• Provide individualized harm reduction education and efforts to participants on overdose prevention, use of naloxone, Hepatitis C Virus, STI and HIV risk reduction and safer drug use.

• Arrange medical appointments, monitor client behavior, schedule pro-social activities, and provide client transportation.
• Conduct follow-up visits to individuals who have experienced an overdose.
• Train individuals on local overdose reversal protocol, offer harm reduction resources, and care options.
• Assist clients with self-determination and decision-making.
• Model recovery values, attitude, beliefs, and personal action to encourage wellness.
• Teach and promote self-advocacy and empower clients to use their legal rights.
• Provide linkage to community resources.
• Participate in team meetings and in-person training sessions on best practices in harm reduction and complete ongoing training to maintain certification compliance.
• Maintain and submit required documentation (treatment plans, service notes, etc.).

• Interact with all public service agencies including EMS, Fire, and Law Enforcement.
• Work with community agencies to link participants to wraparound services as needed and complete and submit necessary referral paperwork.
• Collect and maintain up-to-date knowledge of local resources: healthcare, treatment, and social services providers in Durham County.
• Assist in community educational and outreach activities such as overdose recognition and treatment, community naloxone distribution, etc.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of peer support principles, values, and ethics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness.
• Excellent communication skills in writing and in oral form with the ability to interact with internal and external partners/resources.
• Ability to share lived experience to support, encourage and enhance a beneficiary’s treatment and recovery.
• Ability to work as a team, accept constructive criticism, and provide input and work autonomously and independently with little direct supervision.
• Ability to create, implement, and execute individualized care plans related directly to an individual’s recovery.
• Familiarity with community resources.
• Ability to work with diverse communities.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
• Two (2) years of experience in social work, health services, counseling, case management or related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Lived experience with either Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder struggles and/or treatment.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Must possess and maintain valid North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS) certification.  Must possess and maintain a valid North Carolina driver’s license with a three-year acceptable driving history.

Physical Demands:

Performs light to medium work that involves walking or standing virtually all the time and involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or skill, adeptness, and speed in the use of the fingers, hands, or limbs on repetitive operation of mechanical or electronic office or shop machines or tools within moderate tolerances or limits of accuracy.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment):

None

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

Durham County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer