Peer Support Specialist

Who We Are

Pawnee Mental Health is a non-profit Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) helping underserved populations in 10 counties here in North-Central Kansas.

We are a vibrant community of passionate people looking for our next teammate – you!

What We Offer

At Pawnee Mental Health, we believe in supporting our employees’ well-being with a comprehensive benefits package. This includes top tier benefits like:

• Medical & Vision Insurance: Accessible plans to support your health needs offered through BCBS or Aetna – prices for single coverage between $50-100/month.
• Dental Insurance: 100% FREE for employees.
• Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS): Secure your future with KPERS retirement benefits - a lifetime pension program.
• Other insurances: Life insurance coverage up to 150% of your annual income and long-term disability insurance at NO COST.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy 8 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Generous PTO: Start earning 8 hours of PTO per month (12 days/year), jumping to 18 days/year on your first anniversary.
• Paid Medical Leave: Receive a 40-hour bank of paid medical leave IMMEDIATELY upon hire.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access support resources for your personal and professional life.
• Supplemental benefits: Additional life insurance coverage, ambulance transportation, short term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and more!

The Role You Play

As a Peer Support Specialist, you will use your lived experience with mental health recovery to provide hope, guidance, and encouragement to individuals navigating their own recovery journeys. You will:

• Support clients in building a network of resources and connections for recovery.
• Encourage independent decision-making and self-advocacy in treatment.
• Mentor clients by role-modeling positive coping strategies.
• Assist individuals in recognizing and managing triggers.
• Advocate for client rights and community inclusion.
• Transport clients as needed for services and program support.

To be successful in this role, you must be in stable recovery from a behavioral health condition, as defined by Pawnee Mental Health. Peer Support Certification is required or must be obtained. A valid driver’s license is also needed to transport clients.

At Pawnee Mental Health, we take a great deal of pride in the services we offer, and the progress made by those we serve. All employees, regardless of their role, are an important part of our success! To help us achieve our mission, we’re looking for bright and talented people with great ideas. We believe individuals and families with mental health and/or substance use challenges should have the opportunity to lead normal, productive lives at home and in their communities. If you feel the same, we invite you to explore the opportunity below to see how you can make a difference!

We look forward to reviewing your application!

Qualifications:

Required:

• A High School diploma or equivalent.
• Current or past life experience as a primary consumer of mental health services is required.
• Oral and written communication skills using the English language.
• A valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance maintained in accordance with Pawnee policy and procedure.
• Basic personal computer skills which enable the entry, retrieval and use of electronic data.

All employees will be required to submit to and pass a background check and drug screening.

Preferred:

• Experience with Microsoft Office software.
• Preference will be given in employment to candidates with Kansas certification as a Peer Specialist (CPS), however, in any case the incumbent must become certified within one year of employment.