Peer Support Specialist

WHITINGTON HOMES AND SERVICES; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b)

Training & development

Wellness resources

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Whitington Services for Children and Families is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to provide non-clinical mentoring and recovery support to clients in both individual and group settings. The role emphasizes advocacy within health, legal, and social service systems, with a focus on person-centered recovery planning and empowerment.

The position involves facilitating groups, maintaining documentation, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to promote client wellness and access to

Qualifications

• Lived Experience: in stable recovery 1–2 years.
• Bachelor’s degree as minimum educational background.
• Completion of a state-approved training program.
• Certified Peer Recovery Coach‑Associate, CPRC, NCPRSS, or CPSP.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct therapeutic services to clients.
• Lead and facilitate support groups or recovery workshops.
• Help clients access housing, employment, and community supports.
• Develop personal recovery plans and track progress toward goals.
• Maintain professional documentation within 48 hours of sessions.
• Coordinate with program staff to ensure quality care.

Skills

Lived recovery experience

Strong organizational skills

Effective communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

State-approved training program

Job description

Benefits

• 403(b)
• Training & development
• Wellness resources
• Flexible schedule

Whitington Services for Children and Families is seeking a Peer Support Specialist who wants to make a difference in the lives of others.

We currently have full-time employment openings to serve our Fatherhood Engagement, Diversion program and opportunities to work with those overcoming addictions and families living with a loved one dealing with recovery from addiction. To join our growing staff in this role you must be Certified Peer Recovery Coach‑Associate, Certified Peer Recovery Coach (CPRC), National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS), or Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP).

General Statement of Duties

Peer Support Specialists use personal lived experience in recovery from mental health conditions or substance use disorders to provide non‑clinical mentoring, instill hope, and help others navigate their own paths to wellness. Direct care is provided in the form of individual, family, and/or group therapy. The candidate ensures that programs and operations comply with policies set by the Board of Directors and with all applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and other requirements.

Essential Functions

Provide direct therapeutic services to clients.

• Assist in planning and/or facilitating other groups as necessary.
• Maintain a strength‑based approach with all clients.
• Share personal recovery story to model effective coping techniques and self‑help strategies.
• Help peers advocate for their own needs within complex healthcare, legal, and social service systems.
• Assist in finding and accessing community supports such as housing, employment, and social services.
• Work with individuals to develop personal recovery plans and track progress toward specific life goals.
• Lead support groups or recovery‑oriented workshops in the community and on‑site.

Documentation

• Maintain a high standard of professional documentation in every aspect of job responsibilities.
• Complete case contact notes, group notes, and other service documentation within 48 hours of client sessions.
• Complete all appropriate billings related to services provided.

General Administration

• Ensure adequate controls are in place and maintained in all aspects of the programs.
• Ensure that all standards, regulations, rules and laws for operation imposed by regulatory agencies are met.
• Demonstrate leadership and team cooperation in all facets of management.
• Acquire and maintain knowledge of current local, state, and national trends in service delivery and the potential effects on the organization.
• Recommend and promote changes that will lead to the continued provision of service excellence within all programs.
• Facilitate staff meetings encouraging teamwork and coordination among program staff.

Assure Quality Care

• Maintain an environment in which the welfare of all clients is given priority.
• Maintain an environment in which the health and welfare of all staff is valued.
• Maintain a keen sense of the mission of the organization.
• Ensure quality assurance policies and procedures are fully implemented and maintained throughout all program areas.
• Emphasize the importance of recognizing client rights especially non‑discrimination and confidentiality.
• Ensure ongoing evaluation of services, maintaining excellence and implementing changes as needed.

Coordinate Relations with Appropriate Related Organizations

• Be knowledgeable about, plan for, oversee, coordinate with, and nurture relationships with local, state, regional, and national agencies and associations, as assigned.
• Provide input to the Clinical Director related to the development of cooperative relationships with other service providers.
• Participate actively, as assigned, in collaborative efforts, partnerships, and alliances.
• Be willing to serve on appropriate boards, committees, or task forces that promote the mission.

Professional Attitude

• Maintain and display a professional appearance, attitude, and demeanor to positively represent the organization during interactions with clients, staff, agencies, churches, and all publics.
• Respond with common sense in handling unforeseen contingencies.
• Report all possible areas of interest or concern to the Associate Director in a routine and orderly manner.
• Report all areas of special circumstances to the Associate Director immediately.
• Maintain flexibility in response to constant disruptions.
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance as scheduled.
• Be available for non‑scheduled position responsibilities, as the workload requires.
• Attend meetings, training, and continuing education activities (minimum twenty hours per year).
• Participate in community, state, and national activities, providing leadership as appropriate and as authorized.
• Promote public awareness of the organization through promotional activities and public speaking.
• Facilitate and participate in development and fundraising projects/events and in grant‑writing activities as needed.

Job Qualifications

• Lived Experience: Candidates must self‑identify as being in stable recovery 1–2 years from mental illness or addiction.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree as the minimum educational background.
• Training: Completion of a state‑approved training program.
• Certification: Certified Peer Recovery Coach‑Associate, Certified Peer Recovery Coach (CPRC), National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS), or Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP).
• Valid driver’s license.
• Personal and professional integrity and sound judgement.
• A love of people, kind, caring, and empathic nature, an approachable person.
• Ability to make and implement tough decisions.
• Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development and management.
• Ability to assist in the implementation and maintenance of licensing, accrediting, agency, and other policy and procedure requirements.
• Philosophical and physical commitment to therapeutic programming and interventions needed to work with severely emotionally troubled and other clients.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of information as appropriate.
• Demonstrated time management skills, maturity, and responsibility.
• Ability to maintain prompt and regular attendance.
• Ability to be flexible due to schedule conflict, interruptions, or crisis management.
• Ability to read, write and speak the English language in an understandable manner, communicate effectively and efficiently both orally and in writing, and continually with all departments.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to identify problems and develop creative solutions, willingness to incorporate them into existing practice.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage several projects at once while meeting various timelines and staying within budget.
• Ability to move intermittently during the day wherever required supervising staff at their working sites and performing job duties.
• Ability to cope with mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to demonstrate cultural competency.
• Must have a commitment to the mission.

Working Conditions

• Working in well‑lighted, ventilated office area, as well as outdoors and going to and from buildings and other locations.
• Controlled work environment as well as travel between environments.
• Subject to frequent interruptions.
• Working beyond normal working hours, evenings, and weekends.
• Maintaining an on‑call status.
• Periodically working from home office.
• Driving to meetings and agency functions.
• May be subjected to infectious diseases, substances, contaminated articles, and physically out‑of‑control clients.