Peer Support Specialist FT

Highland Hospital; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Highland Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia is seeking a full-time Peer Support Specialist to advocate, mentor, and connect clients with clinical teams and community resources. The role emphasizes engagement at intake, facilitating recovery, and supporting housing and daily living needs.

Candidates should have a high school diploma, 2+ years in behavioral health, and Peer Specialist certification. CPR/de-escalation training is required where offered by the facility.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Two or more years' experience working in a behavioral health setting.
• One or more years’ experience in an acute inpatient behavioral health setting preferred.
• Certification as a Peer Specialist.
• CPR and de-escalation certification required.
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a mentor to promote decision making, empowerment and engagement.
• Acts as a liaison between individuals, clinical team and community resources.
• Provides peer support to clients to promote recovery.
• Engages individuals at initial contact to expedite screening for appropriate care.
• Assists with housing, daily living skills and access to services.
• Documents services provided concisely and completely per standards.

Skills

Peer support

Advocacy

Client engagement

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

2+ years behavioral health experience

Inpatient behavioral health experience (preferred)

Tools

Peer Specialist Certification

CPR certification

De-escalation training

First aid certification

Job description

Peer Support Specialist FT | Highland Hospital | Charleston, West Virginia

About the Job

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Peer Support Specialist enhances the full array of treatment services from initial referral to the client’s discharge through professional treatment by assisting the client in developing skills and enhancing strengths to avoid relapse and successfully navigate the full continuum of care and the road to long-term recovery.

Roles and Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Acts as a mentor to individuals to promote decision making, empowerment and engagement.
• Acts as a liaison between individuals, clinical team and community resources.
• Takes role of advocate.
• Engages individuals referred to treatment at the initial point of contact, clinic or other community provider, to expedite screening for the appropriate level of care.
• Provides peer support to clinically complex clients, drawing on common experiences as a peer, validates individuals’ experiences and provides guidance and encouragement to promote individuals to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Provides peer support knowledge related to treatment including methadone, buprenorphine or extended release naltrexone injection maintenance treatment.
• Assists individuals in seeking and receiving services to meet individual social needs and provide support to facilitate client success to maintain recovery.
• Assists in the process of acquiring housing, necessities and skills needed to maintain daily and monthly household responsibilities and independent livings
• Assists the client in establishing a relationship with a primary care provider or additional medical care in a coordinated/team approach.
• Serves as consultants and subject matter experts in MAT and client participation in community support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery.
• Serves as linkage between clients and employers in the area to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.
• Assists with acquiring and developing life and social skills, education and other needs identified by the individual to promote quality of life after recovery.
• Acts as a role model for clients by sharing effective coping techniques and self-help strategies in promoting personal growth and development handling internal and external stressors.
• Assists and promotes positive health, wellness and lifestyle choices.
• Communicates client’s status on a regular basis, including, but not limited to changes in mood or functioning, medical issues and all crisis and health and safety issues.
• Documents all “no shows,” and communicates all difficulties contacting clients with appropriate office staff.
• Documents services provided regularly, concisely, and completely in accordance with clinical standards by office deadline.
• Attends all office trainings as well as regular clinical supervision sessions with assigned supervisor.

Education / Experience / Skill Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Two or more years' experience working in a behavioral health setting is required.
• One or more years’ experience in an acute inpatient behavioral health setting preferred.
• Training on personal advocacy, engagement, recovery and resiliency principles, community supports/resources, effective use of sharing life experiences and parenting skills, as applicable.
• Understands general addiction, other substance-related problems and available treatment options.
• General understanding of community resources and how to promote linkage between the client and resource.

Licenses / Designations / Certifications

• Certification as a Peer Specialist required.
• CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Supervisory Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Highland Hospital?

Highland Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Highland Hospital is an EOE.

Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.