Certified Peer Specialist-Housing Support Program

This program is provided to adults living in permanent subsidized housing to promote housing stability, wellness, independence, recovery, and community integration. Housing stability is measured by ongoing housing, decreased number of hospitalizations/ER visits/incarcerations, decreased frequency and duration of crisis episodes, and by increased and/or stable participation in maintenance of personal housing stability and wellness. Supports based on the individuals’ needs are used to promote resiliency while understanding the effects of SPMI and lived trauma. The Housing Support staff will serve as the first point of contact for landlords/property owners for any issues arising with an individual in supportive housing, and will provide linkage to community, general entitlements, psychiatric/substance use/medical services, crisis prevention, and intervention services.

JOB SUMMARY

The Housing Support Case Manager-Certified Peer Specialist is an integral part of the Housing Support Program, which provides multiple supports including case management and psychosocial rehabilitation to assist individuals living in permanent subsidized housing to promote ongoing housing stability. Under general supervision, Housing Support Case Manager-CPS must provide the following types of support:

• Assistance with housing search, leasing, and move-in processes
• Purchase of initial housing furnishing, deposits, household goods for the one-time move-in needs
• Safety and wellness checks and housing safety inspections
• Developing a Housing Stability Support Plan as an adjunct to an individual’s IRP
• Early intervention to mitigate factors impacting housing stability (e.g., late rent payment, lease violations, tenant/landlord or property owner conflicts)
• Education on the roles, responsibilities, and rights of tenant(s) and the landlord/property owner
• Assistance with the annual housing recertification, inspection, or voucher conversion processes
  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Housing Support Case Manager-CPS will:

• Provide all services and supports listed below through the lens of their lived experience while modeling recovery, flexibility, and professionalism
• Carry a caseload (25-30 clients) and conduct a minimum of 1 (one) visit per week/per client within current residence or community setting for the first three months after obtaining housing. After three months, individuals are required to be seen twice per month
• Provide care coordination to ensure stability of housing and independent living skills and facilitate referrals and linkages to internal/external community services/providers to assure a continuum of services
• Provide on-going support, case management, and skills training in accordance with the strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences identified within the treatment plan to help the individual achieve stated goals and objectives
• Gather information from client, family members, and/or support system(s) to ensure client is receiving appropriate level of care
• Recognize the need for crisis intervention and notify designated supervisor/clinical contact of escalated situations
• Complete timely, high-quality documentation for all service contacts including face-to-face and collateral meetings and outreach attempts (within 24 hours) to meet agency and state standards
• Participate in weekly team meetings to provide input for client treatment needs based on observation/interactions with individual/family/other providers
• Meet agency productivity standard of 40 billable hours per month
• Meet regularly with program manager as a means of enhancing professional growth, reviewing and evaluating the provision of services and supports, and evaluating performance
• Perform additional duties as assigned by team lead/program manager/director

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Community setting, typically working Monday-Friday 8:15am-5:00pm; however, some evening and weekend hours will be required, including HSP crisis warm line rotation
• Service delivery is in-person and via telehealth/telephone
• Travel throughout DBHDD Region 3 required
• Ability to use a computer, telephone, fax, copy and scanning machine
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and background (fingerprint) check, have valid Georgia driver’s license and motor vehicle record, complete/pass agency-sponsored defensive driving course, as well as all other agency-required trainings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School diploma or GED
• Certification as a peer specialist (CPS-MH or CPS-AD) or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire
• One year of experience in a behavioral health setting providing case management, advocacy, or support services, preferred
• Proficient technology skills to be able to use electronic medical record, computer, telehealth system, and cell phone
• Care coordination skills to assist individuals with accessing/linking to additional resources and/or services within the agency and/or community
• Must have transportation to and from work, strong interpersonal skills & be a positive team player