SUMMARY

The CPS position provides a variety of recovery-oriented services to persons served within the First-Episode and Early Psychosis (FEPP) Program at MGH. FEPP provides services to individuals ages 13-35 who have experienced the onset of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder within the last three years. The CPS is an integrated team member who helps promote greater independence and self-determination, community integration, and wellness among those in mental health recovery within FEPP. The CPS position provides guidance from their personal journey in recovery and rehabilitative services that enable the persons served to increase functioning in the living, working, and social environments of their choice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CPS position:

• Assists and supports persons served to identify wellness and recovery goals. This role includes facilitating the development of tools that aid in identifying self-determined recovery goals, as well as specific objectives and skills needed to carry out these goals, such as Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP)
• Provides trauma-informed, person-centered community-based support that promotes holistic health and wellness
• Engages and supports persons served through the modality of their choice including phone, virtual meetings, in person in the FEPP office space or in the local community
• Assists persons served in navigating the mental health, medical, and social service systems
• Proactively works to engage persons served and their families in the treatment and recovery process
• Assists persons served in developing empowerment and self-advocacy skills and combating stigma
• Facilitates individual and group-based peer support services that focus on recovery, resiliency and connecting to resources
• Creates and maintains up to date information on community resources related to self-help and recovery and collaborates on expanding community connections
• Acts as a program liaison for the RCC/RLC, clubhouses and other community resources related to peer support services
• Follows the principles outlined in the Massachusetts CPS Code of Ethics (https://kivacenters.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Code-of-Ethics-copy.pdf). One such principle is that the CPS maintains high standards of personal conduct which fosters their own recovery and integrity. The CPS may share his/her own recovery story as appropriate, and walks the road of recovery alongside the person served
• Participates in required interdisciplinary meetings and provides client advocacy
• Offers a lived experience perspective to the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Engages in ongoing and timely communication with other members of the FEPP team to assure coordination of treatment planning and for sharing of pertinent information
• Ensures accurate and timely documentation of all peer contact at time of service in electronic medical record (EPIC) as well as in any supplemental documentation systems determined (e.g., Excel)
• Receives regular weekly supervision from assigned supervisors, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary
• Attends pertinent continuing education and professional activities related to job responsibilities and career goals
• Performs other related administrative duties as required

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

The CPS must have the following skills and abilities:

• Ability to work effectively with colleagues, individual clients, and groups
• Ability to display a non-judgmental, sensitive approach to clients
• Knowledge of community and social service agencies
• Ability to effectively communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing with clients, family members, and the multidisciplinary team
• Ability to manage priorities and adhere to deadlines
• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork
• Ability to effectively use electronic medical record (EPIC) and Microsoft office including Outlook
• Provide culturally-sensitive care to a diverse population of persons served
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills and has the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrated ability to set limits, to solve problems independently, respond effectively in a crisis and to appropriately protect confidential information
• Ability to safely navigate on public transportation and by foot in the community with persons served

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The CPS will be an integrated team member of the MGH First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program and report to supervising licensed clinical psychologists within FEPP in weekly meetings.
• The CPS will work in a hybrid model, completing work responsibilities both in virtual and in person formats based on the needs of the program and preferences of persons served. In person meetings with persons served will also include meetings in the community outside of the FEPP office.
• All transportation with persons served will be on public transportation and CPS will not transport persons served in a personal vehicle.

QUALIFICATIONS

The CPS specialist must:

• Currently or have previously been a recipient of mental health services and be in recovery
• Have a Bachelor's degree or high school diploma/GED equivalent and a minimum of one year of paid or volunteer experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness
• Be certified by an accredited training program as a Certified Peer Specialist at the time of hire

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged.