Peer Support Specialist / Para Professional - Rockwell Development Center
Concord, NC 28027
About the Job
Peer Support Specialist
Job Summary:
Responsible for providing peer support services as part of a multi-disciplinary team to persons with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance and/or substance abuse problems. Responsible for working with clients to enhance their recovery in groups or individually. Assists individuals in self-identifying personal goals for recovery, determining the steps needed to achieve recovery goals, supporting individuals in identifying and securing needed services; and providing an environment of mutual respect, empowerment, and opportunity to promote self-sufficiency within the community.
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED required
- Past or present consumer of mental health or substance abuse services with a history of managing ones own illness; awareness of the importance of recovery in living with a mental illness or additions problem
- Knowledge of the recovery process and how it applies to individuals with serious mental illness
- Ability to work well with others
- Certification as a Peer Support Specialist in North Carolina preferred
- Knowledge of MS Office
- Well-organized and detail oriented; multi-tasking and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks
- Must be highly motivated and proactive
- Ability to follow written and oral instructions
- Must be able to read, write and speak the English language
- Must complete and pass a criminal background check
Key Responsibilities:
- Provides individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support
- Provides training in the use of personal and community resources; supports individuals with problem solving related to their reintegration into the community
- Assists in developing formal and informal community supports
- Assists the persons served in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends and/or significant others
- Provides individuals with support and guidance on recognizing the early signs of crisis, developing crisis plans, and implementing identified coping strategies
- Advocates on behalf of persons with behavioral health problems to protect the client’s rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma
- Works in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the client’s recovery plan; attends treatment/recovery team meetings
- Plans and facilitates practical activities for individuals to increase their self-worth and improve their self-concepts
- Attends staff meetings, case conferences and individual and group supervision; assists in facilitating psychoeducational groups
- Observes all rules of confidentiality relating to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals
- Documents services provided to individuals
- Responsible for understanding clients’ rights, policies and procedures
- Participates in staff training and development
- Other duties as assigned
Para-Professional
Job Summary:
Responsible for providing hands-on support to the qualified professional when working with students individually and in groups, assisting with lesson plans and materials as needed. Responsible for monitoring and reporting student progress in areas of behavior and performance. May be responsible for transportation of client to and from facility.
Qualifications:
- Secondary school diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor’s degree advantageous
- Proven work experience as a Paraprofessional or similar role
- Basic knowledge of childhood growth and development
- Must complete and pass a criminal background check
- Passionate, dedicated, and committed to teaching children
- Experience in helping teachers/licensed professionals in a classroom environment desired
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Recent first aid and CPR certifications
- Experience working with children and special needs students
- Professionalism, confidentiality, and organization; ability to work with culturally-diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive, appropriate and non-judgmental
- Experience with educational software is an advantage
- Ability to maintains HIPAA standards of privacy and confidentiality
Key Responsibilities:
- Prepare the classroom to promote a healthy and safe learning environment
- Ensure classroom safety guidelines are met at all times; organize the classroom and teaching materials, monitoring the classroom during lessons, and minimizing distractions and disruptions
- Coordinate with the licensed professional on lessons and daily classroom activities
- Co-teaching lessons under the qualified professional’s guidance, leading small groups or individual instruction and discussions and reviewing classwork
- Serves customers by greeting, answering or referring inquiries, and maintaining confidentiality
- Engage with children to enhance and encourage learning; supervise students in and out of the classroom
- Attend to students’ physical, personal, academic, and emotional needs; assists students as necessary with physical needs including feeding, toileting, lifting and mobility
- Assists students with healthcare procedures including hygiene as needed for daily care
- Assists students with assistive technology devices, including communication devices, switches, and orthopedic devices needed for sitting, walking, or standing
- Help qualified professionals with extracurricular activities and program functions
- Perform clerical duties, such as tracking student attendance, typing, filing, photocopying, and grading tests and homework, if applicable
- Ensure the upkeep of educational materials, equipment, and supplies
- Track students’ progress and prepare reports for the parents
- Assist qualified professionals on the requirements and development of their children; engage with children to enhance and encourage learning
- Assists with distribution of food, supplies, materials and equipment, including technology
- Transport clients to and from facility, as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned
Source : Rockwell Development Center
