Certified Peer Specialist

United Community Center; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

United Community Center in Milwaukee, WI 53204 is seeking a Certified Peer Specialist to provide recovery-oriented support to participants. You will use lived experience with substance use disorder to inspire hope, promote self-advocacy, and help clients pursue personal recovery goals.

The role includes facilitating weekly groups, documenting client contacts in the electronic health record, coordinating community appointments, and ensuring all activities comply with policies and confidentiality

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and lived experience with substance use disorder and recovery.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.
• Eligible to obtain Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist within six months of employment.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving record.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends and to navigate the city’s public transit.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients to make healthy decisions and encourage responsibility and self-respect.
• Model and mentor recovery processes and coping skills.
• Provide safe, timely, organized client transport.
• Accompany clients to appointments and advocate as needed.
• Communicate professionally with coworkers by phone and email.
• Document all client contacts in the electronic health record.
• Attend supervision, meetings, and required trainings.
• Facilitate weekly groups with clients and enforce group norms.
• Work within the Certified Peer Specialist scope and Wisconsin DHS guidelines.

Skills

Effective communication

EHR documentation

MS Office proficiency

Written communication

Computer literacy

Self-motivated

Education

High school diploma

Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist certification preferred

Job description

Job Details Job Location: Human Services - Milwaukee, WI 53204 Position Type: Full Time Education Level: High School Job Shift: Any Job Category: Health Care Reporting to the Lead Peer Specialist and Operations Manager, the Certified Peer Specialist uses their lived experience of substance use disorder and recovery to provide hope, encouragement, and person-centered support to individuals receiving services. Serving as a peer mentor and positive recovery role model, the Certified Peer Specialist builds supportive relationships, shares relevant recovery experiences and lessons learned, promotes self-advocacy, and helps participants identify and pursue their individual recovery goals.

DUTIES:

• Assist clients to make healthy decisions that directly affect their own lives; encourage individuals to take responsibility for themselves and others; assure participants that they will be treated with respect and dignity, and foster the understanding that families are valued and do have skills and strengths.
• Model/mentor recovery process and demonstrate coping skills
• Safe, timely, organized client transport.
• Accompany clients to appropriate community appointments and advocate as needed.
• Professional communication with coworkers and collaborative staff via phone and email.
• Document all client contacts as required in the electronic health record.
• Uphold, understand, and review all policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Engage in, attend, and complete all required supervision, staff meetings, training, in-service, and health regulations deemed necessary by policies and regulations.
• Obtain Certification as a Peer Specialist.
• Facilitate weekly groups with the clients, ensuring group norms are enforced.
• Provide services within the Certified Peer Specialist’s scope of practice and in accordance with applicable Wisconsin DHS requirements, organizational policies, confidentiality standards, and professional ethical guidelines.
• Supports the goals of the agency’s mission.
• Other duties as assigned by the manager.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to enter documentation into an electronic health record
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office, Google applications, and other basic data systems, including internet navigation.
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and personal lived experience with substance use disorder and recovery. Candidates must be able and willing to use their lived experience appropriately and professionally to provide peer support, promote hope, and help others pursue their individual recovery goals.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.
• Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist certification is preferred. Candidates who are not currently certified must be eligible and able to obtain the certification within six months of employment and maintain it throughout their employment.
• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, a safe driving record, access to a safe and smoke-free vehicle, and proof of vehicle insurance.
• Candidates should be able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, occasionally work evenings and weekends, and have a good knowledge of the city’s public transit system. They must also work effectively with diverse populations in a multicultural setting and demonstrate strong written and verbal communication, organizational and time-management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines.

WORK CONDITIONS

Work is performed in office, community-based, and program settings. Regular work hours generally align with departmental business hours; however, occasional evening and weekend work may be required based on program activities and participant needs. The position may require local travel to community locations and interaction with individuals experiencing substance-use and recovery-related challenges.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time