Peer Specialist (Mental Health Services)

About Us

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,200 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in 318 programs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit www.vinfen.org/careers [http://www.vinfen.org/careers]

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Keywords: Peer Specialist, PeerSpecialist, CPS, advocacy, PeerSupport, VinfenPS

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions preferred; must be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one's own health).
• Lived experience with drug or alcohol misuse/addiction accepted, if applicant has received Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Coach Acadey or equivalent training; must be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one's own health).
• Must either obtain or meet on of the following criteria with six months of hire
• Certified Peer Specialist; has received Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Coach Academy or equivalent training; or meet Family Partner as required by Community Service Agencies specifications, which are:
• Experience as a caregiver of a youth (or adult) with special needs; preferably a youth (or adult) with a psychiatric condition.
• Bachelor's degree in human services field from an accredited school & one year experience working with children/adolescents/TAY (or adult); or an Associate's degree in human service field from an accredited school & one year experience working with children/adolescents/TAY(or adult); or high school diploma/GED & two years experience working with children/adolescents/TAY(or adult).
• Experience in navigating any of the child (or adult) family-serving systems and teaching family members who are involved with child (or adult) family-serving systems.
• A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
• Access to an operational and insured vehicle and willingness to use it to transport Person Served
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants.