Certified Peer Specialist - Housing Services

POSITION SUMMARY
The Peer Support Specialist assists the advocacy department with engaging and supporting FREE’s individuals and families in providing opportunities for self-advocacy and community outreach. This position will assist with groups, meetings and events held by the advocacy department. They will provide support and education regarding the various issues of concern for FREE’s service recipients. The Peer Support Specialist will have lived experience of navigating advocacy efforts as a person with a disability.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Performs all duties onsite at designated FREE locations & approved community settings (as needed), ensuring active participation in in-person advocacy efforts, meetings, groups and outreach activities.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Supports FREE’s individuals and families by providing information and training on advocacy and self-advocacy.
• Provides peer support for individuals navigating advocacy issues.
• Assists FREE’s Advocacy department in raising awareness of disability rights and creating a welcoming environment that supports community and family involvement in FREE programs and activities.
• Assists the Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement with daily operations and event/meeting/group preparations.
• Assists with regular advocacy meetings, groups and outreach activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities of All FREE Employees
• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/meetings/reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.
Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Education:
o High School Diploma required; Associate’s Degree preferred
• Experience:
o Experience working with persons with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness preferred
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
o Not required, training will be provided upon hire as needed
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
o Knowledge of the issues and passion for championing the rights of those with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness
o Organizational and communication skills which would enable effective interaction with fellow team members, individuals/clients/families and the community
• Other Requirements:
o Flexible schedule including evenings and weekends as needed
o Ability to travel is required (transportation will be provided)
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in-person.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.
Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.