Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas empowers self-reliance and inspires hope. As a church without walls, we do this through personalized housing, ministry, health, and human services that benefit vulnerable individuals, their families and the community. Founded in 1896 in Baltimore, MD by social reformers, Ballington and Maud Booth, we were one of the first of over 30 affiliates of Volunteers of America one of the nations largest and most comprehensive human services organizations.
Our founders envisioned a movement dedicated to reaching and uplifting the American people. On behalf of the organization, the Booths pledged to go wherever we are needed, and do whatever comes to hand. Their declaration continues to guide Volunteers of America's impact on Helping Americas most vulnerable.
Through a dedicated and committed team of more than 850 employees and thousands of volunteers, we provide critical care, support services and hope to thousands of people each year throughout Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. We firmly believe our employees drive the success of the organization. Through our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, we endeavor to attract, engage and retain qualified, diverse, compassionate individuals to join our journey and experience a work environment that offers challenging, stimulating and financially rewarding opportunities.
We firmly believe that our employees drive the success of the organization. With success in mind as the ultimate goal, we strive to create and provide an environment that offers challenging, stimulating and financially rewarding opportunities. Our tag line is Helping Americas most vulnerable.
JOB SUMMARY
This position reports to the Clinical Supervisor and provides services to address the needs of adult veterans and their families with suicide risk/behavioral health and other social risk factors.
Qualifications
REQUIREMENTS
Lived experience as a person who is a veteran, and has been involved in the behavioral health system and/or has experienced struggles with social risk/socio-economic factors.
High school diploma/GED or higher.
One (1) year of experience providing peer support services preferred.
Certified as Peer Specialist in the state of Virginia
Demonstrated ability to assess and respond in crisis situations.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills are a must due to the extensive collaboration and networking that is required in the field.
The ability to multitasks and handle a non-traditional work environment.
The ability to be a self-started and work independently with limited supervision at times.
Must have a high level of compassion and respect for persons that are veterans and their families, as well as individuals with behavioral health or other social risk/socio-economic issues
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power-point, Outlook Email, and other systems
Bilingual in any language is desired.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Collaborate with partners to support the assessment of client safety in the home and community.
Advocate for client needs, assisting clients in verbalizing areas of physical and emotional risk and communicating those risks to their clinical team.
Directly support engagement of clients in behavioral health services, must be highly skilled at connecting story as a former veteran and consumer of mental health service with clinical treatment
Assess service activities and identify therapeutic options for individuals and their families that will contribute to their healing and support.
As part of the clinical treatment team, review and analyze the Person Centered/Safety Plan and make suggestions for improvement/ modifications related to peer participation.
Other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical requirements described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to transport oneself, consumers, and program supplies as necessary.
The physical ability to travel to assigned locations, stand, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp, climb, talk, see, hear and perform basic and light home maintenance activities, and operate office equipment.
Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.
The ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
