The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) offers peer support to individuals as someone who has shared similar life experiences and can act as a positive role model. The PSS supports clients with creating their own personally directed wellness plan and connects them with a full range of resources within the community.

Qualifications:

• Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Eligibility to register as a Peer Support Specialist is required. Participation in Peer Support training along with follow through to THW certification will be required once hired.
• Must be 21+ and possess a valid driver's license.
• Lived experience with a mental health diagnosis is required.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Meets with peers in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain positive, trusting relationship.
• Meets with peers in medical clinic setting; attends group sessions for clients to support patient growth.
• Assists clients in identifying their personal goals through the development of a Personal Wellness Plan.
• Assists peers in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction and wellness with SAMHSA’s eight dimensions of wellness: Emotional, Environmental, Financial, Intellectual, Occupational, Physical, Social, and Spiritual.
• Assists clients in working on overcoming barriers to maintaining independence and help clients practice skill building in budgeting, setting up transportation, making health care appointments, and connecting with benefits.
• Models and practices communication skills, recovery-oriented living skills, effective coping skills, and self-help strategies with individuals and groups.
• Informs lead staff persons, supervisor, other pertinent staff of clients’ needs or concerns.
• Participates in regular peer support supervisions.
• Attends relevant staff meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered services.
• Assists peers with identifying and engaging various community resources and supports.
• Reflects positive peer values and appropriate/professional boundaries.
• Documents peer support work, including up-to-date documentation associated with assessment, treatment, patient’s progress and other activities.
• Respects and honors client rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics. Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.
• Assists in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the treatment team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for patients and staff.
• Practices and is competent in preventing escalation, and works to prevent physical and mechanical restraint techniques, avoiding crisis situations or neutralizing crises in progress. This position will not participate in mechanical restraint or restraint training.
• Emergency Response: This employee has been identified as a staff member expected to report for duty following activation of a public health emergency response plan.