Peer Specialist

Agape-Network; Sunset Corners (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Agape-Network seeks a Peer Specialist to provide recovery-oriented peer support within a residential treatment program. The role leverages personal recovery experience to counsel clients, educate on resources, and advocate for client rights, while working closely with the treatment team.

The position emphasizes empowerment of clients through role modeling, community linkage, and facilitating activities to build independence and social skills within the recovery process.

Qualifications

• Articulate wellness and recovery-focused values.
• Adaptability and cultural sensitivity in mental health contexts.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Good written and verbal communication; basic computer skills.
• Pursue ongoing staff development including WRAP and Peer Specialist training.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-to-peer counseling and education using recovery experience.
• Assist clients in learning about and accessing community resources independently.
• Attend weekly treatment team meetings.
• Serve as a role model and mentor to clients to empower them.
• Educate clients about rights and grievance procedures.
• Organize group leisure activities to increase social experiences.
• Lead daily living skills groups and activities.
• Link clients to a local church after program completion.

Skills

Wellness recovery

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Basic computer skills

Adaptability

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Certified Recovery Peer Specialist preferred

Job description

Description

Position Summary:

The Peer Specialist is an active member of the Treatment Program/Team and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurrent disorder in a residential setting.

Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serving as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients.

The Peer Specialist performs a wider range of task to assist peers of all ages, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.

This individual will share his or her practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit the team and clients. The Peer Specialist functions as a fully integrated team member to provide expertise about the recovery process and symptom management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 1. Engages in peer-to-peer counseling and education to clients, including advocacy, and direct service, using own recovery experience as a positive model.
2. 2. Encourages individuals through their own recovery process by assisting individuals with learning about and accessing community resources independently.
3. Collaborate with treatment team by attending weekly meetings.
4. Serves as a role model and mentor to consumers to help provide empowerment.
5. Collaboration with the treatment team to ensure protection of client rights and improve their knowledge of those rights as well as appropriate grievance and complaint filing procedures.
6. Performs related and special projects that provide client's needs, including community-based and/or agency events as assigned
7. Facilitate group meetings to assist clients with daily living skills.
8. Organize and lead individual and group leisure activities to provide increased social experiences.
9. Link clients to a church in the area where client will be relocating after finishing the program.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 1. The ability to articulate wellness/recovery focused value and principles.
• 2. Adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and understanding of the mental health and co-occurring population
• 3. Must have a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• 4. Good written and verbal communication skills required; basic computer skills necessary.
• 5. Continue personal education through staff development and training each year, (i.e. WRAP, Peer Specialist, and Leadership).

Education and Experience

High School Diploma/GED and at least six months relevant experience. Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (preferred) or Peer Specialist certification within the first year of employment.