Peer Support Specialist - ACT Team

Prairieridge; Marshalltown (IA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to join the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team serving the Marshalltown area. You will provide practical support, advocacy, and skills-building in patients' homes and community settings to help them achieve stability and independence.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team, participate in on-call rotations, and help individuals manage daily living activities while maintaining HIPAA and confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field preferred.
• Actual lived experience accessing mental health services required.
• Experience serving individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health needs preferred.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication and documentation requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to patients in home, office, or community settings.
• Offer advocacy and support for an assigned group of patients.
• Coordinate activities of daily living and housing stability.
• Support behavioral health symptom management and crisis response as part of ACT team.
• Assist with paperwork and entitlement applications.
• Participate in patient-centered assessments at admission and yearly thereafter.
• Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA/compliance with regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and on-call rotation.

Skills

Lived experience

Communication skills

Flexible schedule

Travel readiness

Team collaboration

EHR proficiency

Driver's license

Education

Associates degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

Driver's License

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Why Prairie Ridge?

At Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare, our mission is to empower individuals to live healthy, purpose-filled lives on their terms. We believe in the potential of every person and recognize that meaningful care starts with understanding their experiences, strengths, and goals. Through personalized, whole-person care, we help individuals build the skills, connections, and support they need to move forward.

Our work is guided by five core values: Unyielding Empowerment, Relentless Resiliency, Inspirational Integrity, Active Accountability, and Radical Respect. These values shape how we care for the people we serve, work alongside one another, and connect with our communities. We value the different experiences and perspectives each team member brings and the collaboration it takes to provide thoughtful, coordinated care.

As part of our new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team serving the Marshalltown area, you’ll have the opportunity to help build something meaningful from the beginning. You’ll work alongside colleagues from different professional backgrounds to bring treatment and practical support directly to individuals in their everyday lives, helping them work toward greater stability, independence, and the goals that matter to them.

What Is the ACT Team?

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a team-based approach to supporting adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. The team brings treatment and practical support into people’s homes and community settings, helping them manage symptoms, navigate challenges, and work toward their personal goals. Team members from different professional backgrounds work closely together to provide coordinated, individualized care.

As a Peer Support Specialist, you will provide practical support and advocacy to individuals receiving ACT services, helping them manage everyday challenges and build greater independence. You’ll work with individuals in their homes and community settings to strengthen daily living skills, support housing stability, connect with resources, and manage behavioral health symptoms. Working closely with the team, you’ll also provide crisis support and participate in the on-call rotation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides direct care to patients with a combination of mental health and basic living support to prevent the need for more intrusive level of care. Patient care will be provided at home or office or in other community locations to support activities of daily living.
2. Provides support and advocacy for an assigned group of patients.
3. Coordinates and monitors activities of daily living.
4. Supports patients with behavioral health symptom management.
5. Provides support for locating housing options, maintaining current housing arrangements, teaching, or supporting using skills to maintain a clean home and advocating for member support with landlords/other tenants/etc.
6. Engages ACT Team members and/or their caretakers on alternatives to emergency or hospital care.
7. Participates in a collaborative multidisciplinary team and on-call rotation.
8. Delivers crisis response as needed under the supervision of the ACT Team Lead.
9. Works cooperatively with referral agencies.
10. Helps patient with paperwork and entitlement applications.
11. Participates in patient-centered comprehensive assessment at admission and yearly after that.
12. Treat all individuals with dignity and respect while maintaining agency standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and objectivity.
13. Maintain all HIPAA and 42 CFR confidentiality requirements and regulations as outlined in CARF policies and procedures.
14. Comply with agency policies, procedures, and regulatory standards.
15. All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR POSITION

1. Associates degree in Social Work, Human Services, or another Human Service-related field, preferred.
2. Actual lived experience accessing mental health services for self (required).
3. Experience with providing service to individuals with a severe and persistent behavioral health needs.
4. Valid Driver’s License
5. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and/or weekends if necessary.
6. Travel is required as this is a community-based job position.
7. Supportive of the mission of Prairie Ridge and the patients we serve.
8. Proficiency in oral and written communication skills, as well as documentation requirements.
9. Technology skills allowing for proficiency in use of electronic health record.
10. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is often required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and climb or balance.
11. The employee must infrequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or more up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.