Job Description

Career Opportunities with Neighborhood House Association

About NHA:

The Neighborhood House Association is a non-profit organization. Head Start positions are funded in whole or in part by money provided through the State and Federal Government. Additionally, some Social Service Program positions may be funded in whole or in part through grant funds. Because positions and salaries may be funded through grants, and State and Federal funds ongoing employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.

Our EEO Policy:

Neighborhood House Association is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans). We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Benefits

Eligible employees receive the following benefits:

• 15 Holidays Days
• 401(K) Retirement 6% Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500
• 2 Personal Days
• Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Live Well Program
• 4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

**Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.**

POSITION TITLE: IPS PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Neighborhood House Association (NHA) Career Core Supported Employment Program (CCSEP) helps active adult and Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) job seekers with a qualifying behavioral health diagnosis, find and secure competitive employment using the evidence-based Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) model.

POSITION PURPOSE: The IPS Peer Support Specialist will provide peer support services that include case management and transition support services to clients of the Career Core supported Employment Program. The PSS collaborates with Employment Specialists, clinical staff, and community partners to support engagement, reduce barriers to employment, and ensure services align with IPS principles, recovery values, and agency policies.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: The IPS Peer Support Specialist reports to the Program Specialist.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Assist individuals in how to make vocational choices, support client choices, and help clients overcome problems related to achieving goals, including the finding and holding of a job.
• Assist clients in building social skills that will help re-establish normal roles of life and re-integrate into communities.
• Assist clients to identify problems that interfere with the achievement of clients’ goals and help with the development and use of specific interventions needed for overcoming the problems.
• Establish linkages with potential employers, community partners, and maintain directory of employers relevant to clients' preferences and common work experiences and attend meetings, training, workshop pertaining to responsibilities and duties.
• Actively participate in vocational unit meetings and multidisciplinary team to advocate and discuss challenges of clients.
• Knowledge of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) practices, and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Clubhouse International Standards, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) practices and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation to support clients in their recovery goals.
• Knowledge of needs of people with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders and community resources.
• Knowledge of serious and persistent mental illnesses, co-occurring disorders, bio-psychosocial rehabilitation principles, evidence-based practices for recovery programs;
• Ability to communicate in a positive, professional, and tactful manner, exercise tact, objectivity and sensitivity when dealing with clients and staff;
• Knowledge of relevant software and ability to use Microsoft Office programs (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel).

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent and two (2) years’ experience as a peer specialist or two (2) years education post high school and at least one (1) year experience as an IPS peer specialist. Lived experience in recovery preferred. IPS Peer Specialist or Certification as Peer Support Specialist preferred. Bilingual preferred.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: A valid Class B California Driver’s License within 6 months of hire; A clear TB test required upon hire and must be maintained every four years. Knowledge of cultural issues, values and beliefs of the target population of adults with SMI background, homelessness and co-occurring disorders, relevant to providing appropriate program services.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to operate, finger, handle or feel office equipment; reach with hands and arms; bend, kneel, grasp; and lift up to fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus to view documents.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data; use math and mathematical reasoning; analyze and solve problems; learn and apply new information; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions; meet intensive and changing deadlines and interact with officials, staff and the public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees in this class generally work under typical office conditions. The noise level varies from quiet (private office) to moderate business office with computers and printers, light traffic. The employee may have occasional contact with angry or agitated individuals.