Certified Peer Support Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for providing peer support services to clients receiving crisis and residential services under the direction of clinical and medical staff in these areas. Responsible for assisting client in current crisis and at risk for further hospitalizations to successful transition back into the community. Helps represent the mental health consumer’s perspective in planning and implementation. Acts as a liaison between the staff and clients when needed, offering a lived-experience perspective, as a crucial element of trauma informed care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, these include but are not limited to the following. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions:

• Is trained and approved by OMHAS as Peer Support Specialist. Is trained and acts as Qualified Mental Health Specialist when not completing Peer Support duties.

• Monitors client’s well-being, performs client observation and documents observations and interactions in electronic health record.

• Assists with dangerous and potentially dangerous situations and takes appropriate measures to assure client/worker safety.

• Takes initiative to interact with client and to help clients feel as comfortable as possible.

• Provides exceptional customer service to clients, visitors, coworkers, and other professionals.

• Documents and bills appropriately for all client interactions.

• Functions as a valuable member of the treatment team.

• Maintains productivity standards as determined by management.

• Performs other related duties as required.

• Performs the following duties:

1) Engaging the client

2) Supporting the personal recovery goals of the client

3) Community networking with/on behalf of the client

4) Advocating with and for the benefit of the client

5) Mentoring client

6) Bridging or helping clients navigate the mental health system

7) Training clients on self-advocacy, wellness, life skills, goal setting, and decision-making.

Education and Experience: 

• High School Diploma

• High school or equivalent (Required)

• Addiction counseling: 1 year (Required)

• Mental health counseling: 1 year (Required)

• Training and experience in Trauma Informed Care

Computer Skills:  Basic phone, computer, electron skills (email, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Internet, Fax, Copier, etc.)

Certifications and/or Licenses:

• Certified Recovery Specialist (Required)

• Must be able to meet and maintain current credentialing and privileging requirements.

• Current CPR

• Valid Driver’s License

Other Requirements:

• Develops rapport and engages in a personal and positive supportive relationship, demonstrating and inspiring hope, trust, and positive outlook.

• Provides social and emotional support.

• Trains fellow personnel on the unique role of peer support specialist.

• Ability to relate to clients with a variety of age, gender, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds, personality types and problems.

• Ability to achieve and maintain certification in the required training programs.

• Ability to monitor condition of clients and recognize changes in clients’ mental and physical status.

• Ability to work in alternate locations as assigned.

• Exhibits flexibility and ability to manage multiple demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

• Ability to translate personal experience to articulate the collective experiences of clients.

• Ability to use basic intervention skills.

• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.

• Ability to engage in problem-solving process.

• Ability to perform basic office duties in environment of simultaneous demands.

• Maintains appropriate emotional and relationship boundaries with clients, as defined by the Ohio Certification for Peer Supporters.

• Attends regular supervision regarding professional emotional and relationship boundaries.

• Maintains confidentiality expectations to protect clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• Frequent use of fine motor skills to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls and ability to reach with hands and arms on a regular basis

• Intermittently required to lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds

• Consistently required to talk, hear, and/or speak

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus along with the ability to read, analyze, and interpret procedures and/or instructions

• Some assignments may require ability to have or arrange for dependable means of transportation to other clinic locations, meetings, or community events

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in office, individual owned and insured vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.