Peer Specialist - Community Crisis Stabilization - Part Time

Riverside Community Care; Upton (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Twelve paid holidays

Vacation time

Personal time

Sick time

403(b) retirement savings plan with an

employer match

Employee Assistance Plan

Referral bonus

YMCA discount

Job summary

Riverside Community Care in Upton, MA seeks a part-time Peer Specialist for Community Crisis Stabilization. The role supports individuals using lived experience to navigate services, assist in intake, action planning, and transition to discharge, with a focus on recovery and connection to resources.

The position requires a High School diploma, certification as a Peer Specialist (or plan to certify within 6–12 months), and a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Basic computer fluency (Microsoft Office).
• Must be a Certified Peer Specialist or obtain certification within 6 months-1 year of hire.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and reliable vehicle access.

Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in understanding benefits and challenges of their mental health condition.
• Guides individuals through recovery by understanding stages and communicating recovery goals.
• Provides advocacy, support, and education during screening, assessment, and transition processes.
• Coordinates and leads informal groups related to peer-support, recovery, resiliency and resources.

Skills

Excellent communication

Basic computer fluency

Certified Peer Specialist or willing

Valid driver’s license

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Seeking a Peer Specialist for our Community Crisis Stabilization

Location: Upton, MA

Job ID: 12267-709

Contract: Part-Time

Peer Specialists help to make Community Crisis Stabilization (CCS) services welcoming, comfortable, supportive, and responsive to individuals who utilize them within the residential and community program. Using their personal experience and knowledge of navigating the greater system of care, Peer Specialists provide people served with support, information, and assistance in connecting with and obtaining community-based resources and services throughout the program intake, Action Planning process, and the course of treatment and discharge.

In This Vital Role, The Peer Specialist Will

• Assists individuals in learning to understand the benefits and challenges of their mental health condition.
• Guides individuals using services through their recovery process by understanding stages of recovery and role of the recovery specialist at each stage and assisting individuals to communicate the goals of their personal recovery action plans to other ream members
• Provides advocacy, support, and education during the screening, assessment and transition processes; across the spectrum and duration of CCS services; and during transition to independence and discharge.
• Coordinates and leads informal groups related to peer-support, recovery, resiliency and resources

All Peer Specialist staff will receive training in recovery-focused peer support for Substance Use Disorders (SUD), who shall assist in interventions with individuals/families presenting in crisis due to substance use disorders. They will support explanation of the process to access services, availability of self-help resources, and provide follow-up for those who may or may not be ready to accept help at the time of initial contact.

Schedule

Part-Time, 16 hours

• Saturday and Sunday

• 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. or 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Pay

$21.21 hourly

• additional $1 for CPS
• additional $2 for CARC

Benefits Include

• Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
• Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
• Twelve paid holidays
• Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
• Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
• Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
• Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
• Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
• Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee

Required Skills

• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Basic computer fluency (including Microsoft Office)
• Must be a Certified Peer Specialist or obtain certification as a Peer Specialist within 6 months-1 year of hire
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and regular access to a reliable vehicle

Required Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Certification as a Peer Specialist preferred; must immediately begin and diligently work toward certification process if hired without certification

Riverside Community Care is dedicated to respect, integrity and engagement of all individuals. We are committed to building an inclusive and culturally competent organization and we value the richness of having a diverse applicant pool. As an employer committed to equal opportunity, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic as established by law.