Peer Specialist Lead

Position Description

The Peer Specialist - Lead will provide oversight of assigned peer specialist and Human Services Technicians as well as direct input from a consumer’s perspective regarding the transformation of community services; serves as a sounding board for individual’s issues and concerns. The Peer Specialist – Lead will also be to provide peer services to assigned persons served.

Position Expectation

In keeping with the mission and core values of Tri-County Human Services, all persons served, stakeholders, and fellow employees will be treated with dignity, respect, and shown sensitivity to their cultural diversity.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Will provide lead guidance and assignments of day-to-day activities of other Peer Specialist and Human Services Technicians as assigned.
• Provides training of contract specifications to assigned peers such as entering information into the electronic health record or other electronic information system as identified by the funding source.  Assures that person served confidentiality is maintained within the electronic media as required by HIPAA and the requirements under 42 CFR part
• Prepares assigned reports for management and/or funding source as required by contract specifications.  Completes all purchase orders for program purchases that may be required.
• Attends and participates in community forums dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues and concerns.
• Speaks to individuals regarding services received and provides feedback to both the department and providers.
• Assist providers in developing role recovery objectives that meet individual progress towards their goals.
• Will discuss with individual's areas within the provider's service delivery that needs to the targeted for improvement.
• Engages individuals to talk about their experiences to promote understanding of life experiences and its effects on functioning and to promote hope for recovery.
• Can develop rapport with persons involved in the criminal justice system, who have alcohol, addiction, mental health issues or who have other behavioral/emotional difficulties.
• Assists with enrollment for services provided by community behavioral health providers.
• Assist provider staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
• Assists in peer group support utilizing the Illness Management and Recovery model to facilitate problem solving, communication skills development and personal growth.
• Provides services with area/s of competency, i.e. life experience, training, certification, education or other background in the service area. Seeks direction from clinicians when needs fall outside areas of competency.
• Assists in completing and maintaining a personal recovery plan which includes identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and goals, interventions to assist the person served in reaching these goals and progress made toward these goals.
• Attend treatment teams meeting as requested to promote and support consumer's insight to recovery as directed.
• Provides specific community liaison services as assigned by supervisor.
• Performs other reasonable and related duties as assigned.

Minimum Training and Experience

• Requires a high school diploma or G.E.D. and at least one (1) year of full-time experience in a mental health or addictions treatment setting.
• Obtain certification as a Certified Peer Specialist by the Florida Certification Board within one year of position hire date.
• Requires knowledge of addictions treatment and/or mental health treatment programs and supportive services. 
• Requires general understanding of the causes, nature, and treatment of substance abuse and/or mental health problems.