Certified Peer Specialist

The Certified Peer Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting individuals facing mental health challenges and addiction recovery. This position focuses on leveraging personal lived experiences to foster hope and resilience in clients, guiding them towards recovery and self-sufficiency. The specialist will work collaboratively with clients to develop personalized recovery plans, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and support systems. By facilitating group sessions and one-on-one interactions, the specialist will help clients navigate their journeys, promoting empowerment and self-advocacy. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the quality of life for clients and assist them in achieving their personal recovery goals.

The required skills in human services and crisis intervention are essential for effectively supporting clients in distressing situations. Daily work will involve applying mental health counseling techniques to foster a safe and trusting environment for clients. Skills in motivational interviewing will be utilized to encourage clients to explore their goals and aspirations, enhancing their engagement in the recovery process. Additionally, knowledge of addiction recovery will inform the development of tailored strategies that address the unique challenges faced by clients. Preferred skills in social services and child welfare will further enrich the support provided, ensuring a holistic approach to client care.

Essential Functions: 

• Conducts outreach and builds rapport with the members identified by their team. 
• Works directly with members and their natural supports in the community during 50-75% of work hours or 10-15 days per month. 
• Meets with members to provide encouragement, hope, emotional support, and positive feedback to reinforce positive behaviors.
• Assists in assessment of member’s readiness for change and willingness to engage in services.
• Applies motivational interviewing techniques to encourage member engagement in treatment. 
• Works with Clinical Care Managers and other members of the team to facilitate care coordination and connection to meet members’ goals.
• Communicates and responds to internal and external phone calls and e-mails in a timely fashion. 
• Conducts follow up with members in the community to review their understanding of medication and follow-up care needs. 
• Conducts telephonic follow-up and in-person meetings at the provider site or member’s home.
• Assists members to ensure that tasks such as making medical appointments, filling prescriptions, attending behavioral health appointments are performed.
• Identifies and connects members to resources addressing social determinants of health.
• Monitors/identifies potential barriers to treatment and works with the treatment team to resolve them.
• Attends regular meetings with provider and MCOs to discuss barriers and create solutions.
• Completes daily logs and documentation of member encounters.

Position Requirements: 

• Education:  High School Diploma/GED preferred
• License/Certification: 

• Completion and certification through Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services Certified Peer Specialist/Certified Recovery Specialist training curriculum.
• PA Child Abuse Clearance required

• Community Based/Clinic Setting experience. 
• Strong communication skills
• Relevant Work Experience: Possesses at least 1 - 2 years of direct service experience as a Peer Support Specialist. Experience as a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator Preferred
• Ability to travel throughout Philadelphia, navigation of public transportation system

Skills:

• Familiar with services for adults and children in the managed care system
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and able to type 20 words per minute
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a high-volume environment
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Compliant with HIPAA regulations

Work Conditions (including travel, overtime required, physical requirements and occupational exposure): 

• Must be able to travel within Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
• Regularly requires walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, reaching, pushing, pulling and/or repetitive wrist/hand movements for various lengths of time throughout the day.
• Ability to utilize computers and office equipment to complete daily work responsibilities.
• Regularly works inside in areas that are adequately lighted and ventilated.  Some fluctuation in temperature. No protective equipment routinely needed.
• Must be able to adapt to continuous changes/demands of the job.

Philadelphia Residency Requirement:

• The successful candidate must be a current Philadelphia resident or become a resident within six months of hire. 

Equal Employment Opportunity:   

• We strive to promote and sustain a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging every day. CBH is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or any other personnel action based on all qualified individuals. This is without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex/gender, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected individual genetic information, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability in each aspect of the human resources function by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Requesting An Accommodation: 

• CBH is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or religious observance, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by CBH and require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodation once hired. 
• If you would like to be considered for employment opportunities with CBH and have accommodation needs for a disability or religious observance, please send us an email at CBH.Recruitment@Phila.gov