Adult Peer Support Specialist - Pearl - Military veterans preferred

Utilizes and shares personal experience as a recipient of behavioral health services to benefit the team and its clients. Serves as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management and the persistence required by clients. Provides peer counseling and consultation to clients, families and team staff; acts as a liaison with community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; and assists in treatment, education, support and consultation as needed.

Essential Functions:

1. Provide peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
2. Assist clients in identifying and setting recovery goals, including developing coping skills, managing triggers, and accessing community resources.
3. Provide expertise and consultation to the entire team from a behavioral health consumer perspective concerning clients’ experiences on symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders, the effects and side-effects of medications, clients’ responses to, and opinions of, treatment, as well as clients’ experiences of recovery.
4. Help clients to identify, understand and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
5. Facilitate peer-led groups and activities focused on recovery topics such as relapse prevention, coping skills, and personal growth.
6. Model healthy behavior and life skills to promote positive change in recovery.
7. Encourage and support client engagement in therapy, treatment planning, and other program activities.
8. Help clients establish and maintain relationships with support systems, including family, friends, and community resources.
9. Maintain documentation as required by program policies and confidentiality standards.
10. Participate in training, workshops, and supervision to enhance professional development and personal growth.
11. Complete after-care contact to check in on client progress and provide reminders of upcoming appointments.
12. Ensure that all client information is kept confidential and secure in accordance with federal, state, and program-specific confidentiality guidelines, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations for substance use treatment.
13. Remain in compliance of Kentucky regulation 908 KAR 2:220 for Adult Peer Support regarding training, continuing education, and supervision.
14. Other duties as needed or assigned.

Education and Experience:

1. High School Diploma or GED required
2. Past or present consumer of behavioral health (mental health or substance use) treatment with a history of sufficient progression toward recovery.
3. Experience working directly with individuals in a service-oriented field is preferred but not required.
4. Valid KY driver’s license and clean driving record to be insurable by agency liability insurance company.
5. Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of beginning employment.
6. Peer Specialist Certification strongly preferred or ability/willingness to obtain certification within 6 months of employment.

Knowledge and Skills:

1. Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with behavioral health diagnoses.
2. Ability to work under pressure, to listen to client’s concerns and recommend and/or take appropriate action.
3. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
4. Ability to maintain professional boundaries while sharing lived experience.
5. Empathy, compassion, and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals in recovery.
6. Ability to work in a setting that may involve managing potentially challenging situations with clients.
7. Computer literate, including basic Microsoft applications