Certified Peer Specialist

Ramsey County; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Ramsey County in St. Paul, MN seeks a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist to work with the Adult Crisis Stabilization Team. The role emphasizes peer support, coaching, and recovery-focused activities conducted in clients’ homes and community settings.

Qualified candidates will have a MN Certified Peer Specialist certificate, a valid driver’s license, and at least one year of recovery-practice experience. Standard hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some community-based duties.

Qualifications

• Certified Peer Support Specialist certification is required.
• One year of experience assisting clients in recovery practices, rehabilitation and wellness.
• Valid MN driver’s license or access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide side-by-side support, coaching and encouragement to individuals in crisis.
• Educate staff about the recovery process and stigma reduction.
• Assist clients with illness management and recovery and psychiatric rehabilitation.
• Teach self-advocacy skills and promote personal growth.
• Assist with activities of daily living, housing access and transportation.
• Link clients to external sources of help and community resources.
• Co-facilitate Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups.
• Attend scheduled team meetings and participate in collective planning.

Skills

Peer Support

Mentoring

Recovery Coaching

Community Outreach

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

The current vacancy is in the Social Services department. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department or County.

This vacancy requires a Certified Peer Support Specialist certification.

This position is housed within the Adult Crisis Stabilization Team, located at 402 University Avenue East in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Peer Specialist works in partnership with the lead Stabilization Clinician to implement and support treatment plan goals and activities identified with clients.

Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The majority of the work is community-based and is conducted alongside the lead Stabilization Clinician in clients’ homes, community settings, and other service locations.

The primary role of the Peer Specialist is to provide side‑by‑side support, coaching, encouragement, and mentorship to individuals experiencing mental health crises and recovery challenges. Peer Specialists utilize their lived experience to help clients build hope, resilience, and confidence in their recovery journey.

1. Assist clients with illness management and recovery and all aspects of psychiatric rehabilitation by modeling wellness, personal responsibility, self‑advocacy, and hopefulness through the sharing of his or her story, role modeling how the needs of individuals can be respectfully met, and how a belief in ones’ self and recovery is maintained.
2. Educate clinical and other staff about the recovery process and the damaging role that stigma can play in undermining recovery.
3. Help staff to better understand and empathize with each client’s unique experience and perceptions.
4. Provide guidance and encouragement to clients to actively participate in their own recovery.
5. Teach clients self‑advocacy skills.
6. Promote personal growth and development with mental health and substance abuse issues.
7. Assist, teach, and support clients regarding activities of daily living, vocational skills, housing access, maintaining financial supports, and utilizing buses and other transportation in the community.
8. Provide side‑by‑side support, coaching and encouragement to help clients socialize and carry out leisure‑time activities on evenings, weekends, and holidays. Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities and provide other opportunities to practice social skills.
9. Link clients to other external sources of help, when needed.
10. Co‑facilitate Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups and other groups that facilitate recovery.
11. Assist clients in identifying with other consumers who have done well in recovery.
12. When appropriate, convey to clients his/her own experiences with mental illness and recovery.
13. Assist clients in using holistic/alternative healing practices, when applicable, for their psychiatric condition.
14. Attend and participate in all scheduled team meetings.

(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position’s management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12.

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent.

Experience: One year of experience assisting clients in recovery practices, rehabilitation and wellness.

Substitution: None.

Certifications/Licensure: Credentialed as a MN Department of Human Services Certified Peer Specialist through a State endorsed program. Must have a valid class D driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:

• Training and Experience Rating = 100%

You must attach a copy of your active Certified Peer Support Specialist Certificate (CPSS) with your application.

The examination for Certified Peer Recovery Specialist will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions – do not mark “see resume” or “see work history” as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your score and final rank on this examination.

Eligible List: The names of all applicants who have submitted a completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Applicants will remain on the list for 30 days or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted.

The names of all applicants who pass the examination with a score of 60 or higher will be forwarded to the department for further consideration.

Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process.

Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.

Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.

E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on Form I-9.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin.

Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce. The county strives to be equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact: [e-mail]