Peer Support Specialist

WHO WE ARE

The Road Home has been a leader in the fight to end homelessness for 100 years (1923-2023). We provide low-barrier emergency shelters, supportive services, and housing-first-minded rental assistance that helps individuals and families step out of homelessness and back into the community. We are seeking compassionate and empathetic individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others and their community.

JOB SUMMARY

In partnership with 4th Street Clinic, The Road Home is seeking to hire a highly motivated individual who is committed, compassionate, willing to be challenged, and who wants to make a difference in the lives of others. We are seeking a Peer Support Specialist to work at The Magnolia Apartments, a Permanent Supportive Housing property located in downtown Salt Lake City. This position will be a member of the The Health and Housing Transition (HHoT) Team. The HHoT program is a joint pilot between The Road Home and 4th Street Clinic that will optimize access to health care services and housing stability at the Magnolia.

Together with the Housing Case Management team, the HHoT Peer Support Specialist will provide support to residents to maintain and thrive in their apartments at The Magnolia. This will include assistance in accessing behavioral health, substance use, and healthcare treatment. The Peer Support Specialist will engage in relationship building with residents who otherwise may not engage in these services and whose housing may be at risk.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions, so please still apply

Location

Magnolia

Reports to

Magnolia Services Manager

Position Status

Full-time

Shift

40hrs, Monday-Friday

Pay Grade and Starting Rate

Grade 5 - $17/hr

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

EEO Class

Administrative Support Workers

JOB DUTIES

• Serve as a peer mentor to individuals and groups. Offer a positive example of a person with lived experience who has been successful at managing his/her own recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Assist guests with paperwork, schedule appointments with the case management team and Health and Housing Transition (HHoT) Team.
• Participate in clinical staffing meetings and coordinate with clinical staff to develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Increase awareness of and support resident participation in consumer self-help and advocacy organizations.
• Assist residents in identifying and engaging/re-engaging with family, friends, and other natural supports.
• Provide ongoing assessment, problem-solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support, and environmental adaptations to assist residents with activities of daily living.
• Visit with program participants who were recently housed and provide support for them as they stabilize in housing.
• Provide targeted support to residents who have been identified as being at-risk of losing their housing at The Magnolia.

Promoting Best Practices

• Demonstrates awareness and desire to understand diverse populations
• Ability to contribute to the Agency’s commitment to enhancing awareness and appreciation
• Willingness to understand that housing first, harm reduction, low barrier access to resources is best practice and essential to our mission at The Road Home.

• Ability to set and maintain good boundaries, using Trauma-Informed Care as a guideline

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Participation in the State of Utah’s program for Peer Support Certification within 6 months of hire is required.
• Previous training and experience working with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders preferred.
• Personal experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorders and demonstrates a level of recovery sufficient to manage their illness and function independently.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse populations.
• Excellent writing and documentation skills.
• Willing to be a proactive member of a team.

• Ability to work from a Trauma-Informed Care framework.

• Familiarity with the Housing First philosophy.

• Ability to work with community partners.

• Self-starter and self-directed.

• Ability to accept direction from Supervisor.

• Excellent organizational skills and strong computer skills.

• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to diverse populations. Ability to contribute to the agency’s commitment to enhancing awareness and appreciation of diverse ethnic and cultural heritages.

• Must pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen.

Physical and Equipment Requirements

• Ability to lift and/or move 10 pounds (files).
• Ability to stand and walk for an extended period of time.
• Ability to enter guests’ dwellings, including climbing stairs.

The Road Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Road Home is requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Road Home is committed to our work in addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as part of our mission to help people experiencing homelessness move back into housing. We strive to create a team that reflects the people we serve and where our guests and employees feel empowered to be their full, authentic selves.

Benefits

The Road Home is a 501c3 non-profit social services agency whose mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.

Come be part of the solution.

We have a robust, reasonably priced, and inclusive benefits plan for full and part-time employees (25-40 hours/week)

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• HSA, FSA, HRA (We reimburse part of your deductible!)
• Retirement Plan (403B with TRH contribution and match)
• FREE Life Insurance for employees
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & 12 Public Holidays)
• One Floating Holiday Per Year
• Free Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Training & Development
• Tuition Assistance for a wide variety of classes!