Job Information
CITY OF RALEIGH Peer Support Specialist in Raleigh, North Carolina
Are you passionate about empowering the City of Raleigh community? In 2024, the City of Raleigh expanded its Alternative Crisis Response Program and added a Care Navigation team within the Community and Small Business Development Division of the Housing and Neighborhoods Department. The Care Navigation team provides second response follow-up care and referrals for clients after initial encounter with one of the crisis response teams with the goal of connecting residents to the care they want and need within 30 days of initial encounter.
Our team is seeking a committed, person-centered crisis intervention professional to join City of Raleigh as a
Peer Support Specialist. This role
works alongside the Care Navigation Coordinator to provide direct case management and connections to care for residents who have identified that they have recently lost their housing or are at imminent risk of losing their housing. The teams approach to work is flexible, highly collaborative, and evidence based.
About You: Candidates interested in and experienced with crisis response and intervention with excellent interpersonal communication and collaboration skills, a commitment to equity, and a track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity are encouraged to apply. Certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist is a plus.
This position will be supervised by the Care Navigation Manager, but the ideal candidate will be self-directed and able to operate in crisis response situations with minimal supervision.
About Us: The Housing and Neighborhoods Department is committed to improving the quality of life for all Raleigh residents through a variety of programs and activities throughout the city. The Department provides funding to create and preserve affordable housing and for services and programs benefitting low- to moderate-income people. The Department enforces codes to ensure safe and decent housing and carries out neighborhood revitalization and community engagement and enrichment activities. The Peer Support Specialists role is key to the successful implementation of housing and community development programs and services.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides culturally competent peer support services to individuals referred to the Care Navigation team who are experiencing non-violent behavioral health (mental health and substance use) crises, Intellectual/Developmental Disability crises, or crises exacerbated by life stresses and who have been identified as having recently lost their housing or being at imminent risk of losing their housing
- Establishes and maintains excellent working relationships and clear, open, timely, cooperative, and collaborative communication with all staff, clients and families of clients, community partners, and partner agencies. Develops highly collaborative, trusting, and productive relationships with other alternative response team members
- Triage approximately 5-10 individuals referred to Care Navigation per day, quickly establishes rapport, and assesses for needs and barriers
- Manages an ongoing caseload of approximately 15-20 individuals at any given time, assisting primarily with housing navigation and housing resource identification and assistance. Assures that connections are made to services and supports. Facilitates warm handoffs to other, non-housing services as needed, which could involve directly transporting the individual in assigned work vehicle
- Meets with peers (referred individuals) to establish and maintain positive and trusting relationships that are person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. Acts as an advocate for peers, ensuring their needs are met and barriers to treatment are removed. Assists peers in identifying and engaging various community resources and supports
- Works closely with Care Navigation team members to develop individual housing and care connection plans for referred ndividuals, including identifying the needs and barriers to accessing/maintaining housing and other services and for referred individuals
- Demonstrates a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a care coordination position
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by the agency, local, state, and federal policy and requirements
- At various locations, participates in case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training, and other staff development activities. Integrates peer voices in planning, policy, and evaluation conversations
Contributes to strategic planning activities and conversations regarding the performance and direction of the department, particularly in regard to crisis response and departmental culture. Helps to identify opportunities for programmatic expansion and relationships
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Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or GED and three years of professional experience regarding
substance use, behavioral health, or criminal justice systems, and peer counseling or related experience in crisis response or crisis intervention roles with diverse populations experiencing behavioral health (mental health or substance use) crisis, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.
Licensing and Certifications:
- Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
- This position will be mobile due to the community-based offerings provided, wherein the incumbent hired will be driving a City vehicle/obtain a permit
- Certified Peer Support Specialist