Peer Support Specialist

Pamlico County; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

Pamlico County is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to support individuals with mental health and substance use challenges as part of the Post Overdose Response Team. You will provide recovery-focused support, collaborate with clinicians, and help clients access resources.

The role emphasizes lived experience, empathy, and outreach across hospitals, recovery programs, and community settings, with flexible hours and a 1-year grant-funded term.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalency; Associates degree or 1 year of college in psychology or human services preferred.
• Demonstrated recovery from mental health or substance use challenges (minimum 18 months).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Professionalism and ability to work with internal and external stakeholders.
• Basic computer literacy and ability to document workflows.

Responsibilities

• Respond to overdose events post medical stabilization with rapid, action-oriented planning.
• Provide case management, crisis support, and resource allocation for recovery.
• Document interactions per program standards and maintain EMR records.
• Collaborate with PORT Team therapist to set and achieve personal goals.
• Educate families/caregivers to support recovery and reduce enabling patterns.
• Participate in community events to promote PORT Team services.
• Facilitate support groups and recovery-focused workshops.
• Coordinate with first responders, healthcare providers, and community orgs.
• Share personal experiences when appropriate to inspire hope.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines.
• Pursue ongoing training and recertification to enhance skills.

Skills

Lived experience

Communication skills

Teamwork / collaboration

Professionalism

Confidentiality

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalency

Associates Degree or 1 year college in psychology or human services

Job description

Are you ready to turn your experience into a uniquely impactful role that can help others?

The Peer Support Specialist is a trained and experienced individual who provides support, guidance, and encouragement to others experiencing similar challenges, particularly in mental health, substance abuse, or other behavioral recovery-related areas. Working under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, the Peer Support Specialist will work as an important and impactful member of the Pamlico County’s Post Overdose Response Team to assist individuals with Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders move from dysfunctional, crisis -centered lives towards a recovery lifestyle of restoration and robust functioning in their homes, communities and workplace.

Job Overview

The Peer Support Specialist will work within a cohesive team and strategy to utilize their training, recovery and lived experience to provide clinically effective interventions, while fostering hope and recovery among individuals facing mental health challenges, substance use disorders and other related issues. This is a dynamic and active outreach role embedded within a Post Overdose Response Team. This crucial and highly impactful role involves interfacing with clients who have experienced a drug overdose event that has been stabilized by medical professionals and moves the effort towards an evidence-based intervention, via the Peer Support Specialist’s active engagement. This includes providing support through building a therapeutic alliance, sharing personal experiences, helping clients access resources, enrolling them into a service plan and promoting independence and self-advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Respond to overdose events post medical stabilization to provide a rapid response, moving the situation from a stabilized crisis to an immediate action plan.
• Provide case management, crisis management, individual, group support and resource allocation to individuals seeking recovery or support.
• Document stakeholder interactions and progress according to program standards.
• Work with the PORT Team’s therapist to assist clients in setting and achieving personal goals.
• In conjunction with the therapist-Work with client’s family\caregivers\significant others to educate and empower them to therapeutically disengage from enabling patterns and to be a resource for the client’s recovery.
• Attend community health, wellness and recovery-oriented events to represent the PORT Team’s services.
• Facilitate support groups and workshops focused on recovery themes.
• Support & collaborate with first responders, healthcare providers, social workers, and community organizations to promote wellness, recovery and treatment accessibility, while educating the public and reducing stigma.
• When clinically appropriate, share personal experiences to inspire hope and encourage.
• Maintain timely documentation within an Electronic Medical Record and other data base tools as required.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines.
• Participate in ongoing training, recertification and education to enhance skills and knowledge.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalency. Prefer Associates Degree or additional 1 year of college with training in psychology or human services certificate\diploma.
• Lived experience and demonstrated recovery (minimum 18 months) from mental health or substance use challenges.
• Demonstrated posture of professionalism in the workplace and when interfacing with internal\external stakeholders.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and serve as part of a team.
• Empathetic, non-judgmental, and supportive demeanor.
• Possess a working knowledge of community resources and support services.
• Experience working in a Healthcare office\setting with a basic Technology\Computer literacy and office equipment proficiency to facilitate timely and through documentation and effective communication.

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience in a peer support role or related field.
• Familiarity with outreach models for mental health or addiction services.
• Training in trauma-informed care and recovery principles.

The role involves working in various community settings, including first-responder sites, post overdose events, hospitals, residential treatment programs and community centers, May require flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, to meet client needs.

Salary & Benefits

$45,796.00

This position is eligible for Pamlico County’s employee benefit program. This includes health\dental\vision insurance, paid holidays, paid time off and retirement

This is a one year grant funded position. Recurring funding for this role is actively being pursued.

General Pamlico County Employment Questions, contact

Incomplete applications may be rejected.Although accompanying cover letters/resumes are welcome, these attachments do not replace the need to complete a full application.

• Delivery Options:
  • Mail: Pamlico County Personnel Office, P.O. Box 776, Bayboro, NC 28515
  • Hand-deliver: Personnel Office at 302 Main St., Bayboro, NC
  • E-mail: [e-mail]