Peer Support Specialist Sobering Center

Job Description:

Job Title: Peer Specialist

Location: Saint Louis, MO

Department: Outpatient

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:

The Peer Specialist is responsible for promoting the acquisition, development, and expansion of recovery skills to help individuals fully engage in their recovery journey. Through a therapeutic relationship with the individual and their family, the Peer Specialist offers support, resources, and motivation to help clients develop essential skills, access recovery tools, and achieve long-term recovery goals. The Peer Specialist also plays a key role in encouraging clients to live healthier, sober lives while maintaining a connection to community supports.

Position Perks & Benefits:

• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and more.

• Generous Paid Time Off: [Insert number] days annually, including vacation and holiday pay.

• Training & Development: Continuous professional growth with training and education opportunities.

• Supportive Work Environment: A culture that prioritizes well-being, teamwork, and inclusivity.

• Employee Recognition: Acknowledgment of contributions to client success and team effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Treatment Planning: Collaborate with individuals to develop personalized treatment plans based on their specific needs and recovery goals.

• Communication: Maintain regular communication with referral sources, guardians, and team members to discuss client progress, transition planning, and other relevant clinical matters.

• Team Participation: Participate in meetings to ensure continuity of care and client support.

• Resource Referral: Assist in researching and referring clients to appropriate external resources when necessary.

• Scheduling & Transportation: Schedule treatment appointments and provide transportation to Recovery Support Services and community-based services, when applicable. Accompany clients to appointments as needed, representing the agency professionally.

• Medical Support: Assist clients in accessing medical services, documenting all services provided according to state and CARF standards.

• Crisis Intervention & Group Education: Offer crisis intervention when necessary and facilitate group education sessions as scheduled.

• Professional Development: Pursue ongoing professional development and training to meet required hours every two years.

• Peer Support: Use peer support to foster recovery and resilience, helping individuals with mental health and substance use disorders engage in recovery.

• Building Community Connections: Support individuals in connecting with others and with community-based Recovery Supports. Note: This includes the transportation of clients as required.

• Self-Advocacy & Independent Choices: Support clients in making independent decisions and actively participating in their treatment plans.

• Strength Identification: Help individuals identify their strengths and resources to aid in their recovery.

• Recovery Goal Achievement: Assist individuals in setting and achieving recovery goals through mentoring, advocacy, and coaching.

• Emotional & Instructional Support: Provide emotional, informational, and instructional support to help clients feel connected and develop recovery skills.

• Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles: Support clients in living a healthy, productive, and sober lifestyle, both during and after their time in the facility.

• Treatment Plan Creation: Aid participants in creating personal treatment plans to actively engage in their own recovery.

• Confidentiality & Ethics: Adhere to ethical standards and maintain confidentiality in accordance with the facility's policies.

• Long-term Company Goals: Show interest in supporting the long-term and short-term goals of the company.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Personal Experience: Ability to offer unique personal knowledge and experiences of recovery while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

• Recovery Skills Sharing: Ability to share personal recovery skills and help clients identify what recovery tools will work for them.

• Source of Hope: Serve as a source of hope for clients by demonstrating the ability to maintain recovery.

• Case Management Knowledge: Basic understanding of case management methods, principles, and techniques in mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

• Community Resource Knowledge: Familiarity with challenges faced by individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access available community resources.

• Treatment Methods & Legal Requirements: Knowledge of treatment methods, modalities, and legal requirements associated with mental health and substance use disorders.

• Training Knowledge: Understanding of training techniques and practices used in substance use disorder/mental health treatment settings.

• Communication Skills: Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, producing clear and concise reports.

• Community Linkage: Ability to connect clients to recovery resources, including mutual aid support groups in their communities.

• Computer Proficiency: General knowledge of computers for documentation and communication.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

• Self-Identification: Must be willing to self-identify as a present or former client of mental health and/or substance use services, or self-identify as a person in recovery from mental health or substance use disorder. If asked, provide evidence of a sponsor and participation in a 12-step program.

• Experience: At least one year of direct, personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services.

• Certification Requirements: Ability to complete a state-approved Certified Peer Support training program and other required trainings within six months of employment.

• Exceptions: Exceptions to the qualifications may be made by the appropriate leadership.

State-Specific Requirements:

Illinois:

• Certification: Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is preferred, but not required.

• Education: Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Work Experience: 2,000 hours of supervised work experience (paid or volunteer).

• Training: 100 hours of supervision in CRSS performance domains and 100 hours of related training.

• Exam: Successful completion of a written exam for CRSS.

Missouri:

• Certification: Completion of a 5-Day Basic Training Program, followed by passing a State of Missouri approved certification examination within six months.

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent.

• Experience: Two (2) years of responsible employment history.

Kansas:

• Certification: Documentation of completion of BHS-approved Level 2 in-person KCPS training with a score of 80% or greater.

• Employment: Must be employed as a Kansas Certified Peer Specialist or Kansas Certified Peer Specialist in Training.

Supervisory Requirements:

• None

Employment Requirements:

• Background Check: Successful completion of background checks, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.

• Orientation & Training: Completion of New Hire Orientation and all required training, including Relias courses, at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.

• Driver’s License & Transportation: Must have a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and reliable personal transportation.

• Age Requirement: Must be 21 years of age or older.

• Minimum Recovery Time: At least one year of recovery.

• Training Requirements:

  • Within the first year of employment, receive training on signs and symptoms of disability-related illnesses, client self-help skills, individual treatment plans, behavioral management/crisis intervention, and more.

Physical Requirements:

• ADA Consideration – Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, with some degree of walking or standing required.

• Repetitive Movements: Requires repetitive hand, finger, and arm movements for tasks such as typing and writing.

• Physical Activity: Requires sitting most of the time but involves occasional walking and standing.

Brightli's Mission:

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.

Preferred Family Healthcare is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.