Peer Support Specialist

This position provides professional peer-based recovery support for individuals suffering from a behavioral health disorder in a community setting. The employee is responsible for arranging/providing services to consumers that encourage and promote healthy functioning, recovery efforts, individual independence/self-care and self-efficacy. Peer Specialists are trained to assist their peers in the process of recovery and the power of resilience and provide hope that recovery is possible. Peer Specialists support, encourage, and model recovery and resilience from substance use disorders and mental illness in ways that are specific to the needs of each individual.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Adhere to Agency Policies and Procedures and Code of Ethics. Maintain confidentiality for consumers and staff at all times.
• Completes face-to-face interviews and develops, in consultation with other staff, individualized treatment goals and objectives.
• Assesses and monitors consumer participation, progress, and adjustment against measurable recorded treatment goals.
• Provides individual assistance to the consumer to access and utilize a variety of community agencies, (e.g., mental health, health, public services, and other community resources), as clinically indicated including accompanying consumers to appointments to address needs, when indicated.
• Provides/arranges transportation for consumers as deemed clinically and programmatically necessary to attend the program and receive needed services.
• Provides support to consumers experiencing a recurrence of a behavioral health disorder.
• Helping individuals connect with other consumers and their communities at large in order to develop a network for information and support.
• Sharing lived experiences of recovery, sharing and supporting the use of recovery tools, and modeling successful recovery behaviors.
• Helping individuals to make independent choices and to take a proactive role in their recovery.
• Assisting individuals with identifing strengths and personal resources to aid in their setting and achieving recovery goals.
• Assisting individuals in setting and following through on goals.
• Supporting efforts to find and maintain paid competitive integrated employment; and assisting with health and wellness activities.
• Monitors, evaluates, and records consumer progress with respect to treatment goals; maintains timely, legible, clear, concise, and well organized records of services provided, by using collaborative documentation.
• Must be able to use the agency electronic medical record program for all documentation. Is required to use collaborative documentation when applicable.
• Must adhere to the agency service hour requirements.
• Attends multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings and provides information regarding consumer problems, progress, plans. Attends staff meetings and training as required.
• Develops and maintains professional rapport and relationships with consumers; develops and maintains professional, constructive and cooperative working relationships within the agency and with state and local public assistance and social service organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This employee must have good verbal and written communication skills. High School Diploma or GED is required. A Bachelors in social work, psychology or related field is preferred. Must be in recovery from a substance use disorder. Must be able to obtain, and maintain throughout course of employment, the CPS (Certified Peer Specialist) credential established by the MCB. Possess a valid driver’s license and is, and remains insurable, under the Gibson Center for Behavioral Change automobile liability insurance.