Peer Support Specialist

Job Title: Peer Support Specialist

Temporary Full Time

Non-Exempt

Reports to: Project Director

Summary: A peer support provider is a person who uses their lived experience of recovery from mental or substance use disorders or as a family member/caregiver of such a person, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services to promote recovery and resiliency.

This is a temporary fulltime opportunity.

Responsibilities:

• Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions.
• Assist clients in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.
• Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.
• Immediate crisis response if necessary.
• When applicable and appropriate administer relevant screenings.
• Willing to share your own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources you use.
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Work with the clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each client’s identified goals in their integrated service plan.
• Facilitate peer-support groups.
• Referrals to appropriate mental health services
• When applicable, provide transportation for clients to appointments at CBWF.

*The above duties are not limited to a specific grant*

EDUCATIONAL & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• High School diploma, or its equivalent
• Prefer at least five years’ experience with people with mental health histories.
• Must be able to identify with the population of focus by living with a mental health disorder.
• Bilingual preferred.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of populations in a diverse community.
• Knowledge of community agencies and resources.
• Experience working in a community-based setting for at least 1 to 2 years preferred.
• Good communication skills, such as listening well, and using language appropriately.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Normal workweek schedule is from Monday through Friday 8:00-5:00 PM.
• Some evenings required for support groups and after-hours events.
• Amount of travel required is up to 25% of the time.
• Work will be performed in a typical interior/office work environment, client’s homes.
• Potential for on-call to staff crisis clients.