Certified Peer Specialist

Child & Family Services; Fall River (MA); On-site; USD 27,552 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical – Harvard Pilgrim/HealthPlans

Dental – Delta Dental of MA

Vision – EyeMed

2 weeks vacation

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) plan

Job summary

Child & Family Services in Fall River, MA is seeking a Certified Peer Specialist to provide non-clinical, recovery‑oriented peer support to members receiving behavioral health services. You will draw on lived experience to build relationships, promote hope, and assist clients in pursuing personal wellness goals.

The role emphasizes trauma‑informed care, client empowerment, and collaboration with families and community resources.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; Certified Peer Specialist credential or progress toward credentialing.
• CPS must be in sustained mental health recovery for at least one year or have lived experience with behavioral health disorders and be certified to help peers.
• Travel to provide services in different settings as required by the agency.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, welcoming, and clean environment for clients and families.
• Provide trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered care based on clients’ needs.
• Participate in Triage, Screening & Intake to ensure same-day access and necessary documentation.
• Assist clients and families in exploring needs (housing, insurance, food assistance, education, career, etc.).
• Establish trusting relationships and support clients in their wellness and recovery journey.
• Use lived experience and appropriate self-disclosure to inspire hope and model recovery.
• Support family and peer services with facilitation and recovery-focused approaches.
• Provide advocacy, coaching, training, support, and psychoeducation.
• Complete internal and external referrals linking to peer/parent support, self-help groups, and resources.
• Assist clients in identifying goals and building wellness plans for ongoing recovery.
• Coordinate transitions of care and navigate systems in schools and community.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and evidence-based interventions.
• Provide crisis intervention and coordinate with Emergency Services when needed.
• Educate communities as a trusted peer and deliver services in various settings as appropriate.
• Provide temporary transportation support for essential appointments.
• Maintain record-keeping as required by funders and authorities.
• Participate in supervision and training activities and keep scheduling calendars updated.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Peer support

Lived experience

Cultural competence

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Certified Peer Specialist credential or progress toward credentialing

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Fall River, Fall River, MA 02724
Education Level: Certificate
Salary Range: $20.50 - $24.25 per hour

Summary

The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) provides non‑clinical, recovery‑oriented peer support to Members receiving behavioral health services. Drawing appropriately on lived experience with behavioral health recovery, the CPS builds mutually supportive relationships, promotes hope, supports self‑determination, and helps clients identify and pursue personal wellness and recovery goals. The CPS serves as a mentor, coach, advocate, and wellness liaison while honoring the client’s voice, choice, culture, identity, and chosen pathway of recovery.

Schedule

MONDAY‑FRIDAY 9:00 AM‑5:30 PM or 10:00 AM‑6:30 PM with one late night shift (11:30 AM‑8:00 PM)

Language Differential

$1 per hour differential (eligible languages: Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, or ASL)

Child & Family Services carefully considers a wide range of factors when determining compensation, including prior experience, education, certification(s), license(s), skills, and expertise, location, internal equity, and other business‑related factors.

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Provide a safe, welcoming, and clean environment for clients and families
• Provide trauma‑informed, recovery‑oriented, person‑centered care based on clients’ unique needs
• Participate in our Triage, Screening & Intake process to ensure fidelity of same‑day access to services, including necessary documentation
• Assist clients and families in exploring and identifying areas of need, including housing, insurance, food assistance, education, career, and other case‑management needs
• Establish trusting, strength‑based relationships and support clients as equals in their wellness and recovery journey
• Use lived experience and appropriate self‑disclosure in a safe, ethical, and purposeful manner to inspire hope and model recovery
• Assist with facilitation of CBHC’s family and peer support services by sharing lived experience, strengths, and hope through individual, family, or group services as appropriate
• Provide clients and families with advocacy, coaching, training, support, and psychoeducation
• Complete internal and external referrals based on individualized needs, linking to peer/parent support, self‑help groups, community resources, and pro‑social activities
• Support clients in identifying goals, developing or updating wellness plans, and building skills to sustain recovery
• Assist clients and families with navigating systems in schools and community as appropriate
• Support transitions of care and coordinate across health and behavioral health services, including outreach, engagement, and after‑care planning
• Utilize evidence‑based interventions, including motivational interviewing, to empower clients and develop person‑centered service plans
• Provide crisis intervention and coordinate with Emergency Services when appropriate
• Serve as a community educator by providing psychoeducation to relevant community providers
• Deliver services in community‑based, outpatient, home, workplace, crisis, diversionary, or remote settings when safe and appropriate
• Provide temporary transportation support when available through the organization to support essential peer, medical, behavioral health, or community‑based appointments
• Maintain record‑keeping as required by CFS, funding sources, and accreditation authorities
• Participate in all supervision and training activities as required by CFS, funding sources, and accreditation authorities
• Keep Evolv and Outlook calendars up to date to support implementation of Centralized Scheduling

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities. Duties may change at any time.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: High school diploma or equivalent. Current Certified Peer Specialist credential or active progress toward credentialing, consistent with Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Department of Mental Health requirements. CPSs must be in sustained mental health recovery for at least one year or have lived experience with behavioral health disorders and be certified to help peers.

Cultural Competency Qualifications

• Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others
• Knowledge of diversity dimensions, including gender, race, and ethnicity
• Recognition that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs or practices
• Cultural knowledge of key populations served to address disparities in service delivery
• Demonstrates positive attitudes toward cultural differences by showing respect and openness
• Demonstrates communication and interaction skills across cultures, including recognizing and managing personal behaviors to create an inclusive and equitable climate

Travel Required

Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation that meets CFS Driver Policy. Travel is required to provide services in different settings and attend agency meetings, events, and trainings.

Benefits

• Benefit eligible at 20+ hours per week
• Medical – Harvard Pilgrim/HealthPlans Inc.
• Dental – Delta Dental of MA
• Vision – EyeMed
• Wellworks for You (Employee Wellness)
• 2 weeks vacation accrued over 1 year, 3 weeks after 3 years, 4 weeks after 5 years, 5 weeks after 20 years
• 12 Sick Days, 10 Paid Holidays, and 2 Personal Days per year
• Tuition reimbursement – up to $1,500 per calendar year
• Professional Licensure reimbursement (LICSW, LMHC)
• Flexible spending accounts – save on medical expenses and dependent care
• 401(k) – CFS matches first 1% at 100%; 2‑6% matched at 50%
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Long Term Disability and AD&D
• 24‑hour travel assistance, mileage reimbursement, discounted Healthtrax gym membership, and employee appreciation events

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Child and Family Services, Inc. values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages applicants from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AAPI, Hispanic, Latinx, and Veteran communities. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, sex, including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.