Job Description:

General Purpose
The Peer Specialist uses own lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, in addition to skills acquired from formal training to deliver services in behavioral health settings to promote recovery and resiliency of others. Peer Specialists perform a wide variety of non-clinical tasks to assist clients in regaining control over their own lives and the recovery process.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Level I

Ensures clients are fully educated on their rights.
Advocates for clients by reporting unresolved issues.
Improves client service experiences to promote engaged clients.
Supports clients in the process of resolving complaints.
Attends local recovery meetings.
Develops and oversees advocacy and peer support activities at the outlying offices.
Develops and co-facilitates education activities with designated clients and families.
Facilitates strength-based recovery group meetings for adult clientele.
Maintains a professional demeanor and confidentiality during the problem-solving process involving clients and co-workers.
Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients with clinicians.
Serves as a source of general information regarding recovery for mental health and substance abuse issues.
Participates in required training and attends staff meetings.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance of assigned work shifts.
Performs various advocacy or peer support tasks as assigned.
Works closely as a part of a clinical team, coordinating client interactions with the team and following the client treatment plan, with supervision.

Level II

Uses system data to make decisions in client advocacy and activity facilitation in the best interests of the clients.
Communicates peer perspective with diverse clinical team members.
Provides consultation and support to other peer specialists regarding ethical decision-making, advocacy boundary challenges as needed.
Reviews peer specialist documentation and provide training as needed to build skill level.
Participates in treatment plan development as required.
Participates in activities and initiatives to eliminate prejudice and discrimination surrounding mental illness and or substance use disorders.
Facilitates recovery focused support groups.

Level III

Assists in the coordination of department goals and work assignments of other peer specialists.
Helps frame questions for analysis, provides input into report design and reports and extrapolates system data to provide data-based input for department-level decisions related to client advocacy and engagement activities.
Helps set department goals, provides input for budget, staffing, and assignments in support of department leaders.
Oversees peer specialist documentation in support of department revenue targets.
Represents the agency at local and state events to positively impact policy-making efforts.
Works with community partners to conduct needs assessments and identify resources regarding client service needs.
Designs and/or participates in small studies to build peer specialist-based knowledge.
Utilizes experience and education to design client intervention strategies.

Supervisory Duties for Level III

Trains and supervises peer specialist regarding the integration of symptoms/behaviors with client recovery goals.

Job Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:
Level I

Possesses personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to organization's mission.
Ability to comprehend and adhere to company and department practices, policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Ability to operate phone, computer, and other office equipment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of programs, specifically Word and Outlook.
Ability to communicate professionally, speak, read, write, interpret and follow instructions in English.
Ability to work and interact professionally with a diverse population of groups and individuals.
Ability to engage with clients under all circumstance in a calm, professional, friendly and patient manner.
Ability to respond timely and effectively to challenging or emergency situations.
Possess effective time-management, prioritization and organizational skills to ensure work is completed accurately and timely.
Ability to work independently and as an effective member of a team.
Ability to accurately type, track and record important details.

Level II

Knowledgeable of mental illness and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) from academic study and prior work experience.
Ability to provide perspective in the development of treatment plans.
Knowledgeable of culture and culture identity as it pertains to communication.
Knowledgeable of current research practices and trends mental health and SUD.

Level III

Ability to interpret and translate clinical policies and procedures in support of ethical practice for peer specialists.
Knowledgeable of ADA, HIPAA, 42CFR

Education Training and Experience:
Level I

High school diploma or equivalent.

Level II

Completion of a Peer/Advocacy Training program (Peer Certification).
3 years of experience in a human services field.

Level III

Bachelor's degree in health, social science or combination of education and experience (2 years of experience for 1 year of education).
5 years of experience in a human services field.

Work Schedule
The Work Schedule is Monday through Friday, 8am-5 pm.
In-person preferred, Hybrid schedule considered - Office location in Salida.

Working Conditions and Other Conditions of Employment
Working Environment:
This job operates in a fast-paced, professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers. The position may require travel to conferences, meetings, and branch locations on a regular or intermittent basis. Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. In the health center environment, there is potential for contact with blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases, as well as potential for contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals. There could be interaction with persons who are mentally ill, disabled, elderly and emotionally upset.

Physical Activities:
These are representative of those which must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
This is a sedentary role but can involve standing or sitting for extended periods of time, bending at the waist, and using hands and fingers to handle and file papers or operate assigned equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Employee may also have to lift 10 to 25 lbs. unassisted.

Conditions of Employment:

Annual TB federally required drug screening, and Influenza vaccination or compliance with policy and procedure.
Required possession of a valid state driver's license.
Successful candidate must submit to and pass, post-offer drug screen, background check, and FBI Fingerprint check.

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