Peer Support Specialist I

We are recruiting for a motivated Peer Support Specialist I to join our team! We are here for lifes journey. Where is your life journey taking you? Being the heartbeat of Denver means our heart reflects something bigger than ourselves, something that connects us all: Humanity in action, Triumph in hardship, Transformation in health. Department ACS-CHS Grants Funded Job Summary The Peer Support Specialist will provide support, assistance, and advocation for individuals with substance use and mental health challenges by utilizing their own lived experiences to provide support, mentoring, and sharing of resources. The Peer Support Specialist will aid clients in building community, creating relationships, connecting with follow-up care and resources, mentoring, and setting goals and helping clients to overcome obstacles to achieving their goals. The Peer Support Specialist will build relationships with hospitals, community mental health and service providers, harm reduction organizations, supportive housing agencies, and law enforcement to educate each about the availability of treatment and to support effective linkage to services and supports. Essential Functions: Perform outreach and engagement into local evidence-based treatment for people experiencing substance misuse and mental health challenges. Create authentic and meaningful supportive relationships with individuals with substance use and/or mental health challenges seeking treatment and understand their needs to assist them in being linked to the appropriate supportive resources. Facilitate peer recovery support services, in a group and/or individual settings. Assist participants with the creation of a personal recovery plan and/or provide resources to reduce barriers to care. Assist patients in completing any necessary paperwork. Document appropriately according to job requirements. (40%) Partner with treatment providers, hospitals, Emergency Departments, harm reduction organizations, support services, law enforcement, and community-based organizations to educate each about the availability of treatment and ensure effective linkage to services from the community. Participate in regular community meetings focused on addressing substance misuse and mental health challenges, as assigned by supervisor. (20%) Assist patients in accessing therapeutic and supportive services, promote personal growth, development, and recovery while meeting patients where they are at. Be a mentor and role model, aid in goal setting, building skills, and removing barriers to follow up care. Advocate for people in recovery while serving as a living example of someone who has previously suffered from addiction or mental health issues and desires to help others achieve and maintain recovery. (40%) Education: No High School Diploma and/or No GED Required High School Diploma or GED Preferred Work Experience: Lived experience of recovery from substance use and/or successful management of mental health challenges for a minimum of 1 year (longer period preferred). Required and Completion of minimum 60 hours of peer support specialist training or willingness to complete this training within 6 months of employment. Approved peer training should count towards Colorado Peer and Family Specialist (CPFS) certification, National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) certification, or an equivalent peer certification. Full certification not required, only training hours completed. Equivalent peer training hours must be approved by a board recognized by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) as meeting minimum standards. Required Licenses: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Strong, effective, responsive communication skill. Excellent customer service. Organized and attention to details. Ability to summarize the positive effects personal recovery experience, and willing to share this experience in a way that would be helpful to others. Must honor, support and accept all pathways to recovery. Basic computer skills, including ability to use Microsoft Office Programs such as Outlook, Word and Excel and to operate a copier and scanner. Cross-cultural skills, and experience with culturally diverse populations. Shift Work Type Regular Salary $21.25 - $29.75 / hr Benefits Outstanding benefits including up to 27 paid days off per year, immediate retirement plan employer contribution up to 9.5%, and generous medical plans Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation) On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more Tuition reimbursement & assistance Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer Our Values Respect Belonging Accountability Transparency All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denvers 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation. As Colorados primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year. Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer. Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled. Denver Health was founded as City Hospital in 1860 to serve the health care needs of the rapidly developing city of Denver. Since then, we have grown alongside the community to become a complete health care system, proudly providing care for all residents -- at every point in their lives. We believe healthy people are the foundation of a vibrant community, and Denver Health has been treating and healing the people of Denver for more than 160 years. Today, Denver Health delivers preventive, primary and acute care services. We are committed to making our community a healthy place to live, work and raise a family. Youll see that commitment in the programs we offer, through the care we provide and in our determination to achieve continuous improvement so our community always has the best care available. As a comprehensive, integrated organization, we provide hospital and emergency care to the public, regardless of ability to pay. This integration promotes continuity of care for each patient and assures health care that is delivered in the most efficient, cost-effective setting. We care for: thirty-three percent of Denver's population annually; Denver Health sees nearly 1,200,000 total patient visits annually. one in three Denver-area children each year. the needs of special populations such as the poor, uninsured, pregnant teens, persons addicted to alcohol and other substances, victims of violence and the homeless. As Colorado's primary safety-net institution, Denver Health has provided uncompensated care and serves as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation.