Description

Job Objective: The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for assisting individuals in recovery through education and coaching, focusing on self-sufficiency, development, and maintenance of skills and stabilizing symptoms that present as barriers to success. Will provide hope and encouragement to clients. Will share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships with clients.

Position Responsibilities and Essential Duties:
• Engages individuals in healthy, professional relationships focusing on communication skills, boundaries, listening, empathy, and respect in an understanding and compassionate environment.
• Submits accurate progress reports and paperwork in a timely, legible manner, reflecting the clients' functioning and progress towards his/her recovery goals.
• Collaborates with treatment team about clients' strengths and accomplishments in relation to their recovery goals.
• Communicates regularly with supervisor and/or leadership to keep them abreast of activities, plans, and concerns.
• Works, functions, and actively promotes the goals and mission of CCWV.
• Organizes or participates in community or CCWV meetings and committees as appropriate or as assigned.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and privacy standards.
• Visits community resources with clients to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities.
• Provides hope and encouragement to support clients in their recovery.
• Acts as an advocate for the needs of the consumer.
• Promotes the use of natural supports and resources within the community.
• Supports consumers in achieving the resiliency and recovery they want.
• Participates with the treatment team.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Patient Satisfaction:
• Assist patients, family members, or other clients with concern and empathy; respect their confidentiality and privacy; and communicate with them in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Answer and refer telephone calls or other inquires to ensure accurate and timely communications are facilitated.
• Identify yourself in a pleasant and positive manner.
• Take responsibility for helping the patient.

Teamwork:
• Collaborates with treatment team about clients' strengths and accomplishments.
• Consistently works in a positive and cooperative manner with fellow staff.
• Assists other staff in the performance of their assignments.
• Facilitates the transition from a professionally-directed service plan to a self-directed recovery plan.
• Educate professional staff about the recovery process and the damaging role of stigma in undermining the recovery.
• Demonstrates flexibility to perform duties, wherever volume deems it necessary, within the organization.

Problem Solving:
• Demonstrates sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns.
• Follows proper reporting procedures for actual or potential accidents and/or incidents so follow-up and/or prevention can occur.
• Consistently evaluates work and determines if further steps are needed to meet expectations.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

Productivity/ Efficiency:
• Consistently demonstrates the ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner, in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work, as necessary.
• Minimizes non-productive time and fills slow periods with activities to meet the organization's future needs (education, organizing, housekeeping, assisting others).
• Organizes job functions and work areas to be able to complete varied assignments within established time frames effectively.
• Consistently demonstrates the ability to take the initiative to make decisions/choices without direct supervision.

Adherence to Departmental Policies:
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures and the ability to reference said policies and procedures from appropriate books and manuals.
• Complies with CCWV's infection control policies and procedures such as the Exposure Control Plan, which reflects OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to ensure a safe working environment for self and others.

Great Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Extended Sick Pay (ESP)
• Medical Health Insurance and Prescription Coverage
• Basic Life Insurance for Employee and Family
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) Voluntary Contribution Plan
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Continuing Medical Education
• Employee Elected Voluntary Coverage for Employee and Family
• Life Insurance, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Spending Account
• Discounted undergraduate & graduate rates at West Virginia Wesleyan College for employee and family

Qualifications

Physical Demands/Working Environment:
• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand;
• Talk or hear, both in person and by telephone;
• Use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment;
• Reach with hands and arms; and
• Lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and adjusting focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills;
• Read and interpret data, information, and documents;
• Analyze and solve non-routine and complex office administrative problems;
• Use math and mathematical reasoning;
• Observe and interpret situations;
• Learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions;
• And interact with supervisors, staff, patients, the public, and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom may be dissatisfied or abusive individuals.
• Incumbent will work under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet.
• Incumbents will be exposed to viruses, disease, and infection from patients and specimens in the working environment.
• Due to the nature of the business, the incumbent may experience traumatic situations, including psychiatric, dismembered, and deceased patients.

Qualifications/Requirements/Skills:
• Ability to work in an organized and efficient fashion
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to identify problems and evaluate resolutions for a positive outcome
• Good decision-making ability and judgment
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Ability to work overtime as needed to perform all job functions

Education/Training/Experience:
• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Self-identity as a current or past recipient of mental health and/or substance abuse services, active in recovery for a minimum of two years.
• At least one year of positive work experience.
• Possess certification as a Peer Counselor OR obtain certification within six months of hire.