Peer Support Specialist

North Suffolk Community Services, Inc.; Chelsea (MA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

PSLF program eligibility

Health & Dental Insurance

Employer Paid Life Insurance

403(b) Retirement Plan

Voluntary Short/Long Term Disability

Flexible Spending Accounts

Credit Union Access

Tuition Remission Program

Job summary

North Suffolk Community Services, Inc. is seeking Peer Support Specialists for the ACCS Adult Community Clinical Services program in the Boston area. The role emphasizes using lived experience to empower peers and guide recovery within a collaborative care team.

You will support transitions, help clients establish recovery goals, and educate staff on self-directed care. Ongoing trainings and peer-education efforts are key components of the role.

Qualifications

• Must possess or be willing to obtain CPS, CARC or Family Partner within six months of employment.
• Must identify as having lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges to support recovery.
• Bilingual language skills (Spanish and American Sign Language) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support persons served through transitions, including hospital visits, to provide connection and planning.
• Help clients set recovery goals and track progress.
• Educate non-peer staff about self-directed care and recovery principles.
• Use peer-supported practices like WRAP, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, and stages of change.
• Lead trainings and in-service sessions for staff to promote peer-led care.
• Share personal recovery experiences to foster self-advocacy and empowerment.
• Participate in peer team activities and recovery events.
• Pursue continuing education to keep best practices up-to-date.

Skills

Lived Experience

CPR/First Aid

Driver's license

Bilingual (Spanish & ASL)

Education

Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)

Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC)

Family Partner

Tools

CPR/First Aid Certification

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

ACCS Residential Administration Boston, MA, US

Salary Range: $47,500.00 To $51,300.00 Annually

We are seeking Peer Support Specialists for our Adult Community Clinical Services Program (ACCS)! As a Peer Specialist for North Suffolk, you’ll build supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning. The Peer Specialist position is designated for a person who has lived experience and wants to help guide others through the recovery process.

Salaries start at $47,500 for non-certified applicants and $51,300 for Certified Peers.

What you’ll do:

• Support persons served through Life and Care transitions, including visiting a hospital or other restrictive setting in order to provide connection and transition planning.
• Help clients establish goals to aid in their recovery
• Educate non-peer staff about self-directed care and how to best support a person through risk and crisis situations.
• Use peer-supported Evidence Based Practices including WRAP, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness exercises, Stages of Change, and others
• Commit to becoming an Agent of Change through presenting regular trainings and periodic in-service trainings for non-peer staff
• Provide support through self-disclosure of one’s own experiences and the tenets of Recovery to develop the skills for self-advocacy
• Facilitate and co-facilitate skill-building, mutually supportive groups, and emphasize the importance of quality of life activities and community membership.
• Actively participate in North Suffolk peer team membership through recovery events
• Seek Continuing Education in the Peer Support field to ensure that best practices are upheld and that emerging evidence is incorporated into the work.

What You’ll Need:

• Education:
  • Must possess or be willing/eligible to obtain one of the following Certifications within the first six months of employment: Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) or Family Partner
• Experience:
  • Must identify as having Lived Experience of a Mental Health Diagnosis, a Substance Use Addiction, Extreme States, or Trauma that has caused significant life disruption
  • Possess a desire to share those experiences in a purposeful and intentional way to influence the mental health system and provide recovery oriented support to those in ACCS services.
• Skills:
  • Driver’s license preferred but not required.
  • Must be CPR/first aid certified within five months of hire (training provided).
  • Bilingual language skills a plus! Spanish and American Sign Language skills needed.
• Paid Time Off – Two weeks’ Vacation per year (three weeks after 1 year of service), 12 Sick Days per year, and 11 Paid Holidays per year
• Eligible employer for the PSLF program
• Health & Dental Insurance, with generous employer contribution
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• 403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
• Voluntary Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Access to Credit Union Banking
• Access to State Tuition Remission Program (Worksite Specific)