Peer Support Specialist

Job Summary:

Responsibilities of Peer Specialist are to emphasize the acquisition, development, and expansion of recovery skills needed to move fully engage in recovery. Interventions are built on the unique therapeutic relationship between the Peer Specialist, the individual served, and his or her family unit.

Job Description

Essential Job Functions:

• Assist participants in developing treatment plans.
• Complete regular communication with referral sources/guardians regarding progress, transition planning, and pertinent clinical issues and documentation.
• Participate in staffing to assure continuity of care.
• Make or assist in outside referral of issues not able to be addressed within the treatment milieu.
• Assist in scheduling of treatment and arranging transportation.
• Represent the agency in a professional manner.
• May assist in the referral for medical issues of clients.
• Document all services provided in accordance with appropriate state/CARF standards.
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary.
• Facilitate group education as scheduled.
• Obtain trainings to assist in professional development meeting 36 hours every 2 years.

• Certified Peer Specialists use the power of peers to support, encourage, and model recovery and resilience from mental health and substance use disorders in ways that are specific to the needs of each individual.
  • Peer support services are individual or group services with a rehabilitation and recovery focus;
  • Peer support services promote skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms while encouraging the use of natural supports and enhancing community living;
  • Peer Support activities assist in achieving goals and objectives set forth by the individual in their individualized treatment or recovery plan;
  • Peer Support activities emphasize the opportunity for individuals to support each other as they move forward in their recovery;
• Certified Peer Specialists interventions may include:
  • Sharing lived experiences of recovery, sharing and supporting the use of recovery tools and modeling successful recovery behaviors;
  • Helping individuals recognize their capacity for resilience;
  • Helping individuals to connect with other clients and with their community at large;
  • Helping individuals who have mental health and/or substance use disorders develop a network for information and support;
  • Assisting individuals who have a mental health and/or substance use disorders to make independent choices and to take a proactive role in their treatment;
  • Assisting individuals with identifying strengths and personal resources to aid in their recovery; and
  • Helping individuals set and achieve recovery goals.

• A Peer Specialist can assist individuals who have a psychiatric disability to make independent choices and to take a proactive role in their treatment.

• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
• Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.
• Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.
• Some knowledge of training techniques and practices used in a substance use disorder/ mental health treatment setting.
• Proficient at sharing lived experience with others seeking to engage in recovery while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Capable of communicating ideas clearly and effectively verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.
• Ability to connect clients/patients to recovery resources, including mutual aid support groups, located in communities where we serve.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

• Self identify as a present or former client of mental health or substance use services OR self identifies as a person in recovery from mental health or substance use disorder.
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Pass background check or request an exception to the findings if/when applicable.
• Complete a state approved training program and if required, pass a standardized examination
• Missouri Only - Complete the application located on the following website at https://mopeerspecialist.com/
• Missouri Only - If required, complete a 5-Day Basic Training Program; following which, the individual must pass a State of Missouri approved certification examination within six months.

Supervisory Requirements:

None

Employment Requirements:

• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record and abuse/neglect.
• Completion of New Hire Orientation within 30 Days of employment.
• All training requirements including Relias Learning within two (2) weeks of employment and annually thereafter.
• First Aid certification within three (3) months of beginning employment and upon renewal date.
• Obtain CPR certification within three (3) months of beginning employment and upon renewal date.
• Behavioral Management training completed within thirty (30) days of employment or first available class after start date:
  • CPI for Residential programs
  • Peaceful Intervention or Verbal De-escalation for Outpatient programs
• Achievement of thirty-six (36) hour training requirements within 2 year period in accordance with 9 CSR 10-7.110 E 1.
• Growth and Development form (CPRC only) within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Privileging and Credentialing form (CPRC only) within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Within the first year of employment, receive training on:
  • Signs and symptoms of disability related illnesses
  • Working with families and caretaker of clients receiving services
  • Rights, roles, and responsibilities of client and families
  • Client self-help skills
  • Individual treatment plans
  • Basic principle of assessment
  • Special needs and characteristics
  • Philosophy of community support approach
  • Suicide awareness/precaution
  • Quality assurance
  • Infection control
  • Philosophy, values, and objectives of CPRC
  • Behavioral management/crisis intervention
  • Issues/involuntary hold

Physical Requirements:

ADA Consideration - Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally (exists up the 1/3 of the time) and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Requires walking or standing to a significant degree, or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls, or requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.