Certified Peer Specialist

Behavioral Health Network, Inc (BHN); Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Purpose-Driven Work

Peer-Based Support and Advocacy

Meaningful Community Impact

Collaborative Team Environment

Recovery-Oriented Practice

Ongoing Professional Growth

Comprehensive Benefits

Certified Great Place to Work

Job summary

Behavioral Health Network (BHN) in Massachusetts is seeking a Certified Peer Specialist to support individuals in their recovery journeys. You will provide peer-based support, advocacy, education, and guidance to help people build self-determined lives and navigate mental health services and community resources.

The role may work within the Community Peer Program, Adult Mobile Crisis Team, or The Living Room.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, or recovery.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Peer Specialist Certification required, or ability to obtain within 1 year of hire.
• One year of recovery experience required.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency required; ASL preferred.
• Ability to advocate and empower individuals in recovery.
• Willingness to share personal recovery experiences professionally.
• Strong written and oral communication, listening, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Cultural competence and ability to work with diverse populations.
• Proficiency with technology and agency systems; strong organization and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals' progress toward recovery and self-determined lives using experiential knowledge.
• Model responsibility, self-advocacy, and hope through personal recovery experiences.
• Inspire hope and encourage individuals through their recovery journeys.
• Provide self-help education and connect to recovery tools and community resources.
• Help individuals identify goals and pathways to achieve them.
• Offer supportive listening and emotional support during distress.
• Share information about community resources, peer-run organizations, housing supports, and benefits.
• Maintain current knowledge of recovery-oriented practices through ongoing learning.
• Complete responsibilities with professionalism, teamwork, and effective use of agency technology.

Skills

Lived experience

Bilingual English/Spanish

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Peer Specialist Certification

Job description

Behavioral Health Network (BHN) is a leading statewide provider of behavioral health services and a Certified Great Place to Work. Since 1938, BHN has helped individuals, families, and communities thrive through compassionate, high-quality care. We are seeking a Certified Peer Specialist to support individuals receiving behavioral health services in their recovery journeys. Reporting to the Certified Peer Specialist Supervisor, this role provides peer-based support, advocacy, education, and guidance to help individuals build self-determined lives and navigate mental health services and community resources. Certified Peer Specialists may work within the Community Peer Program, Adult Mobile Crisis Team, or The Living Room.

What We Offer:

• Purpose-Driven Work - Empower individuals to take an active role in their recovery and achieve their goals.
• Peer-Based Support and Advocacy - Use lived experience to inspire hope, model recovery, and support self-determination.
• Meaningful Community Impact - Help individuals connect with resources, supports, and opportunities within their communities.
• Collaborative Team Environment - Work alongside behavioral health professionals and peer support colleagues dedicated to recovery-focused care.
• Recovery-Oriented Practice - Promote wellness, resilience, empowerment, and individual choice in every interaction.
• Ongoing Professional Growth - Expand your knowledge through training, supervision, and continued learning in peer support and recovery practices.
• Comprehensive Benefits - Generous PTO, 403(b), tuition reimbursement, medical, dental, vision, employee assistance programs, and more.
• Certified Great Place to Work - Join an organization recognized for creating a positive and engaging employee experience.

What You'll Do:

• Support individuals' progress toward mental health recovery and self-determined lives by sharing experiential knowledge and real-life examples of recovery.
• Model personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through appropriate sharing of personal recovery experiences and strategies.
• Inspire hope and encourage individuals as they navigate their recovery journeys.
• Provide self-help education and connect individuals to recovery tools, peer supports, and community resources.
• Assist individuals in identifying goals, hopes, and aspirations and developing pathways toward achieving them.
• Offer supportive listening and emotional support to individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges or distress.
• Share information about community resources, including peer-run organizations, housing supports, benefits resources, and community events.
• Maintain current knowledge of recovery-oriented practices, peer support services, and community resources through ongoing learning and professional development.
• Complete responsibilities with professionalism, cultural responsiveness, teamwork, communication, and effective use of agency technology.

Who You Are:

• Lived experience of a psychiatric diagnosis, extreme emotional states, and/or trauma (Required)
• High School Diploma or GED (Required)
• Peer Specialist Certification required, or the ability to obtain certification within 1 year of hire. (Required)
• One year of recovery experience (Required)
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation (Required)
• Bilingual and bicultural proficiency in English and Spanish required; American Sign Language proficiency preferred.
• Ability to act as an advocate and empower individuals to take leadership in their own recovery.
• Ability and willingness to share personal recovery experiences in an effective and professional manner.
• Strong communication, listening, interpersonal, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Proficiency with technology and agency communication systems, along with strong organization, teamwork, and reliability.

What We Offer:

• Professional Growth: Training and supervision to support your learning and career development.
• Supportive Environment: Work alongside dedicated behavioral health professionals in a collaborative setting.
• Award-Winning Workplace: BHN is ranked as the 10th Best Employer in Massachusetts by The Boston Globe.
• Diverse Workplace: Bilingual candidates and individuals from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Impactful Role: Help individuals achieve mental health goals in a safe and supportive setting.

We Hire for HEART!

Since 1938, BHN has delivered high-quality, culturally responsive behavioral health care to individuals, families, and communities throughout Massachusetts. Our core values Humanity, Empowerment, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork guide how we lead, how we serve, and how we support one another. If you're ready to make a meaningful difference as part of a mission-driven organization, we'd love to hear from you.

Shift: 32-hours weekly (Sun 630a-3pm) (Monday 11am-730pm) (Fri/Sat 11am-730pm) plus shift differentials

Pay: $21.50 uncertified / Certified $22.50