Peer Support Specialist - Substance Abuse

Pathways, Inc.; Mount Sterling (KY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathways, Inc. is seeking a full-time Youth Peer Support Specialist to provide peer support to youth and young adults. The role emphasizes sharing recovery experiences, promoting hope, and helping clients identify personal goals and community resources.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, maintain confidentiality, and participate in trainings. A YPSS certification or the ability to obtain it is required, along with meeting agency criteria for eligibility.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience as a consumer of mental health services.
• Ability to build rapport and establish supportive relationships with youth and young adults.
• Experience collaborating with interagency or multidisciplinary teams preferred.
• Knowledge of System of Care principles, wraparound services, cultural competency, and evidence-based practices.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group peer support services to youth and young adults.
• Serve as a positive role model by sharing personal recovery experience and promoting hope.
• Teach coping skills, self-help strategies, and recovery-oriented techniques.
• Support consumers in identifying strengths, goals, and community resources.
• Advocate to ensure needs and concerns are addressed appropriately.
• Communicate consumer-related concerns to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with interagency teams and community partners for coordinated care.
• Maintain documentation and records per agency policies and regulations.
• Participate in trainings, meetings, and supervision as required.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Skills

Lived experience

Rapport building

Interagency collaboration

Communication & advocacy

Professional boundaries

Education

YPSS Certification

High School Diploma

Job description

Pathways complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, pregnancy status, victim status, marital status, member of the armed services or covered veteran status, or any other status that is protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. This policy includes, but is not limited to: recruitment, employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, termination, compensation, benefits, layoffs, training, and social and recreational programs.

Salary: $32,500 - $36,562

Job Type: Full-Time

Educational Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required

Certification/License Requirements

• Certification as a Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) required or ability to obtain certification within agency-required timeframe
• Must meet YPSS eligibility criteria of 35 years old or younger

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group peer support services to youth and young adults
• Serve as a positive role model by sharing personal recovery experience and promoting hope and resiliency
• Teach effective coping skills, self-help strategies, and recovery-oriented techniques
• Support consumers in identifying strengths, goals, and community resources
• Advocate on behalf of consumers to ensure needs and concerns are addressed appropriately
• Communicate consumer-related concerns and updates to supervisor in a timely manner
• Collaborate with interagency teams and community partners to support coordinated care
• Maintain documentation and records in accordance with agency policies and applicable regulations
• Participate in trainings, meetings, and supervision as required
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Skills & Knowledge

• Must have lived experience as a consumer of mental health services
• Ability to build rapport and establish supportive relationships with youth and young adults
• Experience collaborating with interagency or multidisciplinary teams preferred
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn:
  • System of Care principles
  • Care planning and Wraparound services
  • Cultural competency
  • Evidence-based practices in mental health and adolescent substance abuse treatment
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and advocacy skills
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality

This is a full time position