CSO is looking for a Peer Specialist for out PACT-Youth program in Springfield. 

Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is an evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment program designed to assist youth overcome the barriers to their recovery from severe and persistent behavioral health disorders. 

The goal of the PACT-Y service is to provide Youth and their Families with a comprehensive range of behavioral health services and supports that ensure the Youth can remain living in their community and prevent the need for out-of-home, residential, and/or hospital levels of care.  For young adults, whether they choose to live with another adult or on their own, the goal of PACT-Y services is to help them establish the full range of supports needed for them to live successfully in the community, including support in transitioning to DMH adult services, if needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide a specialty expertise based on sharing one's lived experience of mental health challenges with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in a young adult who is struggling with similar concerns.
• Build relationships and collaboration with others by making connections and maintaining trust with young adults and their family members, providers, other adult allies, and young adult peer group through respectful curiosity; listen for understanding, validate young adults' experiences, communicate in clear and positive ways, share information with respect for confidentially, openly consider the perspectives of others, manage conflicts honestly, and treat all colleagues fairly.
• Role model by demonstrating, through actions, words, and manner, the types of behavior that will contribute to young adults' success and personal growth; offer hope, role modeling of recovery, and vision of a full and meaningful life for persons served.
• Support young adult's vision and goals; collaborate with young adults and their care teams to encourage a vision for the future based on young adults' aspirations, promote goals that align with the vision, create a plan to reach the goals, and end services in a purposeful transition that encourages independent sustainability.
• Demonstrate safe, professional, and ethical behavior requires that PACT-Youth mentors adhere to practices that promote integrity and dignity while working with young adults; demonstrate professional behavior which centers around communication, accountability, and learning opportunities; demonstrate rigorous attention to professional boundaries.
• Assist with access to treatment and/or supports for achieving sustained recovery. When needed, serve as liaison between person served and providers or the recovery community.
• Provide crisis and intervention treatment services as members of a treatment team. 
• Act as a member of a treatment team in accordance with treatment goals and planned activities/interventions and effectively communicate with other team members regarding client care. 
• Provide motivational counseling, prompting, and intensive support to consumers during psychiatric crises or periods of transition.
• Provide education and support with identifying community resources including appropriate mental health, addiction and medical services, and accessing services of choice.
• Promote peer values as defined in Young Adult Peer Mentor Training and Certified Peer Specialist Training, including self-determination, mutuality and reciprocity, individual respect and dignity, easy to understand language, and non-judgmental attitude.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources for sharing with individuals and supporting actions for recovery. 

Qualifications

Lived experience as someone served by the mental health/behavioral health service system and a willingness to share knowledge and experience of recovery. High school diploma and minimum of one year of sustained recovery required. Must have or be willing to complete the Massachusetts Certified Peer Specialist training.  Must be able to work in natural and clinical settings, relate well to a range of individuals, and promote a philosophy of recovery. Will possess strong interpersonal skills, including patience and a nonjudgmental approach.  Will have ability to adapt to changing needs and responsibilities and personal resiliency in high-stress, 'crisis' situations.  Must be able to work flexible schedule which may include evening and weekend work, as required by client needs. Will be able to document activities in a manner that meets agency requirements. Computer proficiency required including ability to work with email, electronic health record and word processing software. Valid MA driver's license and reliable transportation required. 

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, (English/Spanish speaking.)

Benefits

We provide our employees with competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including full coverage health and dental insurance and ample paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, and holidays). Additionally, we offer a 403B retirement savings plan, an employee referral bonus program, regular in-house training and professional development opportunities with free CEUs, and voluntary supplemental insurances at group rates, including short and long-term disability, cancer, accident and life. We also offer a premier employee assistance program (EAP) and personal cell phone plan discounts. Our work environment is flexible and supportive, with ample opportunities for collaboration within and across departments, programs and locations. 

Our Agency

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a behavioral health organization serving individuals and families across Western Massachusetts. From our early days as a child guidance clinic, we have expanded into a full-service behavioral health agency, committed internally to excellence while we collaborate externally with community partners to participate in a comprehensive system of assistance and resources for the residents of our communities. We employ over 650 multi-disciplinary staff, helping thousands of families over the past 50 years. We have community-based office locations throughout Western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange, Athol, Gardner and Pittsfield.

Our expertise, in a nutshell, is to support people in their progress towards self-sufficiency, no matter what challenges they face on that journey. EOE/AA