Peer Support Specialist

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources; Gulfport (MS); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer paid life insurance

Long-term disability (LTD)

Health insurance (optional)

Dental insurance (optional)

Vision insurance (optional)

Flexible spending account (FSA/HSA)

403(b) plan

Generous leave and holiday policy

Job summary

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources in Gulfport, MS is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to work at the Harrison Diversion Center, assisting adults with serious mental illness or substance use issues. The role emphasizes modeling recovery, providing advocacy, and helping clients access effective services, with training to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist within 90 days.

Candidates must have a high school diploma, a valid MS driver's license, and at least 6 months (ideally 12) of

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be a current DMH Certified Peer Support Specialist or obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
• Valid Mississippi Driver's License with satisfactory driving record.
• Reliable transportation to provide services in the community.
• Knowledge of establishing and sustaining self-help and educational groups.
• Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness and coping strategies.
• Minimum six months, preferably twelve months, in self-directed recovery.

Responsibilities

• Advocates for consumers by providing information in understandable terms.
• Assists with outreach, medication monitoring, system navigation, and advocacy.
• Engages families and consumers to help them achieve goals.
• Functions as a role model to peers through personal recovery and coping skills.
• Provides face-to-face structured activities to aid recovery/resilience.

Skills

Peer support

Advocacy

Self-help groups

Recovery coaching

Community outreach

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

DMH Certified Peer Support Specialist certification

Job description

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans).

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources is actively seeking Peer Support Specialists to work our Harrison Diversion Center in Gulfport, MS, focusing on assisting adults with serious mental illnesses and/or substance use issues. A Peer Support Specialist must be a current or former consumer or a parent of an individual who has received treatment for and self-identifies as a consumer of former mental health consumer. Upon hire, the Peer Support Specialist will attend a training to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist. This position plays a vital role in assisting consumers in the program by modeling effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on prior experience; supporting consumers in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services; and helping them to monitor their progress. For 50 years, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources has served individuals throughout the Pine Belt. Through an extensive continuum of care, we strive to enable adults with serious mental illnesses, children with serious emotional disturbances, and individuals with an addiction or developmental disability to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. Our eighteen county service area includes Amite, Franklin, Forrest, Hancock, Harrison, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Covington, Greene, Jeff Davis, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Wayne Counties.

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources offers a competitive benefits package including employer paid life insurance and LTD, along with optional Health, Dental, Vision, FSA and HSA, cafeteria options and a 403(b) plan, along with a generous leave and holiday policy.

Requirements

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Must be a current DMH Certified Peer Support Specialist or be able to obtain certification within 90 days of hire
• Must possess a valid Mississippi Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record
• Reliable transportation needed to provide services in the community
• Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
• Must have demonstrated a minimum of six (6) months, preferably twelve (12) months, in self-directed recovery.

Responsibilities

• Advocates for consumers by providing consumer information in terms that consumers and families can understand through various formal and informal settings.
• Assists with targeted outreach, medication monitoring, system navigation, and advocacy.
• Engages families and consumers to help them/loved ones to be successful and meet their goals.
• Functions as a role model to peers by exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills.
• Provides a range of structured activities that are provided face to face to assist individuals in their recovery/resiliency process.