What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Support Specialist position at Behavioral Health Network, Inc (BHN)?
Brief Description
The STAR-H Peer Support Specialists have lived experience of addiction, homelessness, and recovery. Providing real-time Housing First and Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, and Networking (MISSION) wraparound services, Peer Support Specialists work closely with adult participants in Metro-Springfield who are chronically homeless and whose lives have been derailed by co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Offering credible connection and guidance, motivation, and hope, Peer Specialists help participants explore and find their own unique recovery pathways.
Essential Job Functions
The STAR-H Peer Support Specialists have lived experience of addiction, homelessness, and recovery. Providing real-time Housing First and Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, and Networking (MISSION) wraparound services, Peer Support Specialists work closely with adult participants in Metro-Springfield who are chronically homeless and whose lives have been derailed by co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Offering credible connection and guidance, motivation, and hope, Peer Specialists help participants explore and find their own unique recovery pathways.
Essential Job Functions
- Provides wraparound peer support services to up to 15 STAR-H participants at any given time.
- Helps adults with problem substance use, mental health and housing challenges explore a variety of recovery pathways
- Uses their own lived experience of addiction and recovery to help mentor and empower their peers to be in the ‘driver’s seat’ of their lives
- Helps promote quality of life through empowerment, safety awareness and trauma-informed approaches including respect, trustworthiness, and honoring the inherent worth and dignity of each person.
- Facilitates weekly MISSION peer support groups and activities to focus on the recovery needs, preferences, hopes, and dreams of people participating in services.
- Assists individuals with organizing their life activities
- Provides support, information, advocacy, and linkages to resources to help individuals take next steps in their recovery journeys.
- Provides assertive outreach and assists with access to preferred community-based services
- Completes all program specific documentation in a compliant and timely fashion
- Collects and enters data as directed by the UMass Medical CHAN MISSION & Housing First Evaluators
- Must have lived experience of addiction and recovery with a minimum of two years in sustained recovery upon hire.
- Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent
- MA Certification in Addiction Recovery Coaching (CARC) strongly preferred. If not, CARC certification required within one year of hire.
- Completed Recovery Coach Academy training by a BSAS approved provider and the 3-day Ethical Considerations course either before start date or within one month of hire
- Additional Certification as a Peer Specialist, a plus
- Strong motivation to work with people whose lives have been derailed by addiction and mental health challenges
- Familiarity with a wide range of services and supports to shore up stability and recovery in the community, but not limited to peer-based recovery supports
- A passion for and experience doing community outreach work
- Ability to work both independently and on a team
- Excellent skills in communication, follow-through, and maintaining professional boundaries
- Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to relate to and build rapport with program participants, colleagues, and internal and external service partners.
- Spanish speaking language capability (preferred)
- MA Driver’s License and a reliable, registered and insured vehicle for on-the-job use required
