Peer Specialist

General Summary: Provide direct mental health service to clients in emergency services, inpatient, outpatient, community support program, and residential settings. Serve as a role model for clients and educate clients about self-help techniques and self-help group process; teach them effective coping strategies, sometimes based on personal experience; assist them in clarifying their goals for rehabilitation and recovery; and help them to develop support systems. Assist clients in regaining personal control over their lives and over their own recovery processes. Facilitate the development of self-help skills, support systems, coping strategies, and the increased hope and self-esteem that are central to recovery from a psychiatric disability.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Act as a role model to persons in recovery to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery.

• Model/mentor recovery process and demonstrate coping skills.

• Engage individuals who may be at risk and provide stage appropriate Recovery education and supports, e.g., usage of the leveling system and evidence based practices.

• Assist in the orientation process for persons who are new to receiving mental health and/or co-occurring disorders services.

• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence and be trauma informed as relevant to the needs of individuals in recovery.

• Identify recovering persons’ abilities, strengths and assets and assist them to recognize and use them.

• Assist individuals to identify their personal interests and goals.

• Educate and engage individuals in the Wellness Recovery Action Plan process as a means to recognize early triggers and signs of relapse, and use of individual coping strategies as an alternative to more restrictive services.

• Facilitate Double Trouble, 12 Step, or other self-help groups for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.

• Co-facilitate meetings to nurture a peer support culture, e.g., community meetings, peer council, etc.

• Assist in development and implementation of educational and support groups, activities deemed beneficial by the program community, e.g., warm line, calendar of events, etc.

• Assist individuals in developing and practicing the skills selected and defined on their rehabilitation plans. This may include off-site coaching sessions while the individual is attending community appointments or participating in activities, e.g., social, leisure, and recreational activities, and fostering spiritual connections with faith based organizations, and participating in 12 Step fellowships, self-help and mutual support groups.

• Introduce and link individuals to community resources and peer supports outside of the facility to promote community integration, e.g., public transportation training, computer educational/G.E.D. classes, vocational services, (ORS, job training), health and wellness, banking, and financial entitlements, etc.

• Assist individuals in learning how to access and maintain stable housing and facilitate the process of obtaining reasonable accommodations.

• Review e-mail account daily for new messages.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Attend all agency/department required training and meetings within the prescribed period.

• Attend all Safety Training programs and be able to describe his/her responsibilities related to the general safety, department safety, and specific job-related hazards and responsibilities.

• Demonstrate respect and regard for the dignity of all clients, families, visitors and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible and courteous environment.

• Embrace Thrive’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mission Statement and Definitions.

• Present a neat appearance in proper attire and identification as required by the position, department and agency policies and procedures.

• Work the hours and/or shifts assigned, and begin and end on time.

• Carry and enliven a positive Thrive image consistent with the Thrive’s Guiding Principles and professional code of ethics.

• Function, as member of a team, i.e., be a Team Player.

Education, Experience and Competencies:

• High school diploma or GED.

• Have maintained, within the last three (3) years, at least 12 months of successful full or part time paid or voluntary work experience (not necessarily consecutive) or one-year post-secondary education experience totaling 24 credit hours.

• Have completed and passed a Peer Specialist certification program approved by the Department

Certifications, Licenses Requirements:

• Valid driver's license required or ability to obtain necessary transportation in order to perform the responsibilities/tasks of the job.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities in meeting the expectations of the position.

EEO/VET/LGBTQ+ Employer