Peer Support Specialist

Sterling Health Solutions, Inc.

Job Description

Title:                           Peer Support Specialist

Supervisor(s):           Substance Abuse Coordinator

Department:              Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse

Effective Date:          September 13, 2019

Job Summary

Peer Support Specialist will provide inspiration, hope, guidance, and support to individuals and their families. The ideal person will be enthusiastic, extremely well organized, and passionate in working closely with patients in recovery. They should be passionate advocates for reducing overdose deaths by helping patients with linkage to retention on medications for opioid use disorder.

Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Supplement and enhance the work of the SHS Primary Care and Behavioral Health services of all clinic sites.

1. Serve as an active member of the treatment team.

1. Advocate for services requested by the individual.

1. Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interest, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery in both individual and group settings.

1. Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc.) that support the recovering person’s goals and interests.

1. Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.

1. Connect participants to a larger community of care.

1. Educate and assist family members.

1. Perform a wide range of tasks to assist individuals supported in regaining control over their own recovery processes.  Interventions are strength-based and focused on promoting recovery, symptom reduction, increased coping skills, and achievement of the highest level of functioning in the community.

1. Help individuals create strategies they can use when their illness may have an impact on their employment.

1. Participate in Care Team meetings upon request of the individual.

1. Participate in monitoring of individual satisfaction with supports, services and programs.

1. Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the field.

1. Transport patients to appointments with SHS transportation services.

1. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Be courteous and respectful to patients and co-workers at all times
• Ability to work independently, establish priorities, and coordinate work activities
• Ability to use good judgment to accomplish goals
• 2 years’ peer support specialist experience
• Understanding of medication for opioid use disorder
• Experience with MOUD (Buprenorphine and Vivitrol) as part of recovery
• Familiarity with local support services, resources, and recovery community
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals
• Knowledge of the community/population served 
• Ability to “empower” clients – identify problems and resources to help them solve problems themselves

• Completion of Adult Peer Support Specialist Approved Program with the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID)

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.  
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Must have a valid KY Driver’s License

Special Requirements

Requires sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time.  Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours.  Requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Ability to work with a moderate noise level in the work environment is required.  

The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required in order to perform the work. The health center reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises. Additionally, this job description is not intended as an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and the Center continues to maintain its status as an at-will employer. 

If the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, reasonable accommodations may be made.