Certified Peer Support Specialist

Alternative Community Resource Programs Inc; Ebensburg (Cambria County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Alternative Community Resource Program, Inc. seeks a Certified Peer Specialist to support adults 18+ and youth 14-27 in recovery and community integration. The CPS works within home and community settings, offering 1-on-1, recovery-oriented services and linking to other providers as needed.

The CPS background includes sharing personal recovery experiences and building authentic peer relationships. Travel to consumer homes and communities is required.

Qualifications

• Belief in recovery and willingness to share personal recovery experience to support others.
• Problem-solving skills and genuine optimism for peers' success.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to set boundaries.
• Ability to engage diverse individuals and tailor support to needs.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of a recovery-treatment team.
• Provide recovery education to consumers, family members, and staff.
• Act as a community liaison to build relationships with service agencies.
• Provide outreach and engagement between consumers and support organizations.
• Assist consumers in recovery-based goal development and planning.
• Facilitate community integration and use of natural resources.
• Facilitate skill-building activities.
• Promote self-advocacy and opportunities.
• Facilitate linkage to treatment services.
• Provide long-term engagement, support, and encouragement to consumers, families, and staff.

Skills

Recovery-focused

Empathy

Communication skills

Peer support experience

Tools

Computer skills

Job description

Job Summary:

The Certified Peer Specialist is responsible to the Certified Peer Specialist Program Director and Supervisor(s). A Certified Peer Specialist is a dedicated and enthusiastic individual who is a self-identified individual with a mental health diagnosis who has reached a point in their recovery pathway where they can positively support others in similar situations. A CPS provides 1 on 1 person-centered, recovery-oriented services for adults 18 and over and/or youth and young adults 14-27 years old with serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbances to help them achieve recovery and community integration. Services are provided in the consumers' homes and communities in conjunction with existing resources. Services can include: advocacy, education, development of natural supports, support of work or other meaningful activity of the person's choosing, crisis support, wellness activities, effective utilization of the service delivery system, and service coordination and linkage to other service providers. The ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships is essential to effective CPS performance. CPS must hold the following beliefs and demonstrate the following qualities:

Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Participate as a member of a recovery-treatment team.
• Provide recovery education to consumers, family members, and professional staff.
• Act as a community liaison to develop relationships with service agencies and other organizations.
• Provide outreach and engagement between consumers and support organizations.
• Assist consumers in recovery-based goal development and planning
• Facilitate community integration & consistent use of natural resources
• Facilitate skill-building activities
• Promote self-advocacy skills and opportunities
• Facilitate linkage to treatment services
• Provide long-term engagement, support, and encouragement to consumers, family, and staff to perform other job duties as required.
• Aid clients in using a strengths-based assessment to develop individualized goals and support clients in their journey to reach the goals.

Education / Experience and Required Skills/Abilities:

• A personal belief in recovery
• Problem-solving skills
• A genuine hope and optimism that their peers will succeed
• A sincere interest in the welfare of their peers, including the ability to see each person as a unique individual with a unique pathway to recovery
• A willingness to share their own recovery experience
• An ability to flexibly engage people based on their receptivity level and individual needs, acknowledging that even the same person may need different types of peer-based services at various points in their recovery process.
• Possess effective written/ verbal communication, boundary setting, & computer skills.
• Ability to learn and share various skills and tools that suit the client's recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources, and groups that may be useful and how to use these in the recovery process.
• Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid the client in his/her daily living while aiming to reduce stigma.
• Guide for using personal development tools/skills and community resources.
• Assists clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job obtainment.
• Offer encouragement during times of crisis and engage in trauma-informed practices.
• Work cooperatively with and assist the treatment staff with developing a treatment/recovery plan based on the client's identified goals and needs.
• Observe the rules of confidentiality related to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies or individuals.

Required Licenses and Clearances:

• Act 33/34 and FBI clearances.
• ACT 31 certificate
• Possess a valid Pennsylvania driver's license with a good driving record & own reliable transportation for travel to consumer's homes/ communities
• Be willing to complete and pass the mandatory 75-hour peer specialist certification training program, which includes oral and written examinations upon completion.
• Be willing to complete 18 hours of approved continuing education training per year (with 12 hours specifically focused on peer support and/or recovery practices)

Physical Requirement:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Some travel required

Work Environment:

Work performed in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings, including but not limited to: ACRP office settings, clients' or group homes, community-based outpatient settings, other community agencies, or locations of the client's choosing.

Work area may be noisy, irregular, or unpredictable. Exposure to stressful situations and or exposure to clients demonstrating varying levels of recovery and symptoms.