Peer Support Specialist - Jail Based

Unison Health; Bowling Green (OH); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 16 days

Medical insurance

Dental and vision

Retirement plan

Job summary

Unison Health in Ohio seeks a Jail-Based Peer Support Specialist to mentor and support individuals during incarceration and transition to the community. You will use your lived experience to build trust, provide recovery and coping skills, and connect clients with local resources.

Responsibilities include intensive outreach after release, collaboration with the Jail-Based Treatment Team, documentation, and helping clients navigate services.

Qualifications

• Required two- or four-year degree in social work, psychology, LPN, or QHHS status.
• CPR certification within 90 days of hire.
• CPI Certification within 90 days of hire.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must meet requirements and become a certified peer supporter within six months of hire.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of mental illness and the recovery process.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends.
• Must demonstrate ability to identify and react in a crisis for de-escalation or appropriate care.
• Commit to continuing education and professional boundaries.
• Must establish therapeutic relationships and represent the agency professionally.
• Must show knowledge in chronic physical health issues for SPMI/SED.

Responsibilities

• Provides peer support and outreach within the Jail-Based Program using a client-centered, trauma-informed approach.
• Assess client needs and provide recovery-focused support and crisis stabilization.
• Develop individualized care plans and connect clients with mental/physical health services.
• Advocate, follow up after crises, discharge, or missed appointments.
• Use lived experience to promote hope and empower clients in recovery.
• Maintain documentation and confidentiality per federal regulations and agency policies.
• Collaborate with Jail-Based Team and community partners; attend meetings and trainings.
• Maintain required certifications and scope of practice.

Skills

Peer support

Outreach

Case management

Recovery

Trauma-informed

DSM information

Education

Two- or four-year degree in social work, psychology, LPN, or QHHS status

Job description

Unison Health provides a mission-driven work environment focused on staff support, professional growth, and work-life balance. We are committed to helping our employees thrive while making a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. For over 50 years, Unison Health has proudly supported individuals, families, and communities across Ohio. From behavioral health and substance abuse treatment to primary healthcare, we are dedicated to our mission: Making Lives Better.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) Starting at 16 Days/Year
• Medical with federal minimum deductibles
• Dental and vision coverage
• Retirement planning and employer contribution

Position Summary

The Jail-Based Peer Support Specialist serves as a mentor, advocate, and guide by providing peer support services to individuals during incarceration and throughout their transition back into the community, in accordance with State, Agency, and Program policies, guidelines, and professional standards. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing intensive outreach following release, offering emotional and recovery support, assisting with ongoing case management, teaching recovery and coping skills, connecting individuals with local community resources, and helping clients navigate and access services both during incarceration and after returning to the community. This position requires the ability to appropriately share personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to build trust, promote hope, reduce barriers, and empower individuals in their own recovery journey. The Peer Support Specialist also provides valuable insight and support to non-peer staff by identifying potential barriers and challenges that may negatively impact an individual's engagement in treatment and recovery. This position works as an integral member of the Jail-Based Treatment Team and actively collaborates with team members to coordinate services and support positive outcomes for clients.

Key Responsibilities & Role Highlights

• Provides peer support and assertive community-based services to individuals assigned to the Jail-Based Program, using a client-centered, recovery-oriented, culturally competent, and trauma-informed approach in accordance with State mandates, agency policies, procedures, and individual service plans.
• Assess client needs, monitors symptoms, and uses clinical judgment and current DSM information to provide appropriate support, interventions, crisis stabilization, and recovery-focused services while seeking supervision when needed.
• Participates in the development and implementation of individualized care plans, assists clients with accessing mental health, physical health, and community services, and provides education and skill development related to recovery, wellness, communication, independent living, and community reintegration.
• Provides advocacy, outreach, and intensive follow-up services, including support following a crisis, discharge from jail, or missed appointments, while helping clients overcome barriers to treatment and successfully transition into the community.
• Utilizes personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to provide hope, encouragement, and empowerment to clients while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and supporting individuals in their own recovery journey.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation, client records, confidentiality, and releases of information in accordance with federal regulations and agency policies; meets established productivity standards and completes assigned responsibilities within required timeframes.
• Collaborates with Jail-Based Team members and community partners, participates in team meetings, supervision, trainings, and conferences, maintains required certifications and scope of practice, follows Unison policies and procedures, and performs additional duties as assigned.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Required Two- or four-year degree in social work, psychology, LPN, or QHHS status.
• Required CPR certification within 90 days of hire.
• Required CPI Certification within 90 days of hire.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must meet requirements and become a certified peer supporter within six months of hire.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of mental illness and the recovery process. (Knowledge of co-occurring disorders and treatment is preferred.)
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule that will include some evenings and weekends based on client’s needs. No holidays are needed.
• Must demonstrate the ability to identify and react appropriately to a person in crisis for the purposes of de-escalating or linking with the appropriate level of care for treatment.
• Must provide services within the person’s scope of practice and commit to seeking continuing education to further enhance service delivery skills.
• Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships, including therapeutic relationships with clients and to represent the agency in a professional, positive manner at all times.
• Must demonstrate knowledge in chronic physical health issues and needs of persons who are SPMI or SED.
• Must demonstrate the ability to define problems, analyze data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and make recommendations.
• Must demonstrate a positive attitude, commitment to provide superior service, and enthusiastic support for the mission of the agency.

Peer Support Specialist

• Must demonstrate personal integrity, the ability to develop and work as part of a team, and a commitment to the mission of the agency.
• Must be able to work with ill, disabled, emotionally upset and at times hostile individuals.
• Must be able to drive and be insured under the agency’s commercial liability policy as a driver if hired in a program where driving is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.