Peer Support Specialist - Resource Center

Peer Support Specialist

At First Step House, "We help people build lives of meaning, purpose, and recovery," and we are dedicated to this mission. We are hiring for a full time Peer Support Specialist in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Peer Support Staff provides a variety of targeted services for persons contacted through the First Step House Homeless Resource Center Program in the shelter. These services range from general support to developing Wellness Recovery Action Plans. The Peer Support Staff is responsible for providing the highest possible care to every client served. This role can be complex as support staff must navigate between varying interests. For example, while client advocacy and rapport must be priorities, consideration must be given to the treatment implications of interventions prescribed by clinical staff or shelter staff. This role requires strong collaborative skills, as Peer Support Staff work with various teams, including partner staff such as treatment teams and client advocate staff. The Peer Support Staff assists the Resource Center Program Manager in providing the highest care to all program participants. The overall goals of this position are to (a) assist shelter guests who are exiting the shelter due to behavioral violations, (b) provide high-quality care for all shelter guests, specifically engaging them in motivational and change-based processes when referring them to community resources such as medical care or any kind of treatment, (c) engage shelter guests who have recently returned from shelter exits, (d) provide a high level of customer service for funders, clients, and other stakeholders, (e) provide support for shelter staff (namely the clinical and client advocate staff), and (e) work at all times to promote sobriety and safety in the shelter. Salary is $44,907.84 per year. Our full-time benefits include: robust paid time off program with enhanced benefits as you grow with us, 15 paid holidays annually, including your birthday, 401(k) employer matching (up to 5%), opportunity for annual merit increase and annual bonus, medical, dental, vision, life insurance.

Education and Experience: A high school diploma or Associate's Degree and an active license in the State of Utah as a certified peer support specialist is preferred. Education in the Utah State Peer Support Specialist is required. Experience in both substance abuse and mental health treatment field is preferred. Mediation/Conflict Resolution skills/Crisis Management skills (MI, de-escalation tactics, etc.) Duties include but not limited to: promotes security by doing daily security logs, coordinating with relevant staff for crisis matters, and when needed, filling out incident reports. Provides daily transportation assistance to project participants for treatment, as well as occasionally for detox, hospitalization, shelter moveouts and assessment appointments, assisting the FSH Transportation manager with vehicle compliance. Coordinates with case managers at First Step House, the shelter, and other agencies to coordinate medical care and to obtain necessary resources, obtaining proper information releases and protecting personal client information. Attends all relevant employee training classes and clinical staff meetings, as well as coordination meetings with the partnering shelter. Collaborates and consults with supervisors, treatment-team members, community partners, and other relevant parties concerning clinical issues.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.