Residential Peer Support Specialist

The Lakes Region Mental Health Center, Inc.; Laconia (NH); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lakes Region Mental Health Center, Inc. seeks a Peer Support Specialist for its Residential Department in New Hampshire. You will apply your recovery experience to support patients’ mind-body resiliency, sharing your journey within a structured, supervised setting.

Responsibilities include assisting with ADLs, medication prompts, community linkages, and thorough documentation in the EHR/MAR. A high school diploma is required; certification or ability to obtain within 1 year is preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Lived experience with mental illness and/or SUD.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of Residential Services team using evidence-based modalities.
• Support patients in mental health recovery and ADLs.
• Attend supervision with Peer Support Coordinator weekly and Housing Manager monthly.
• Provide medication prompts and supervise self-administration.
• Connect patients to community services and events.
• Document in EHR and MAR promptly and obtain required signatures.
• Maintain boundaries and transport patients as needed.

Skills

Strong written and verbal comms

Lived experience with mental illness/S

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

Degree in human services/mental health preferred

Peer Specialist/Recovery Coach cert within 1 year preferred

Job description

Patient Care Services Full Time , Days , Full time OR part time

Position Summary:

The Peer Support Specialist in the Residential Department advances the Lakes Region Mental Health Center mission through using their lived experience of recovery from mental illness and /or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in mental health settings to provide mind-body recovery and resiliency. The Peer Support Specialist, under the general direction of their supervisor, will share their stories of recovery and enter mutually supportive relationships with patients that support recovery.

• Ability to work as part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary Residential Services team that utilizes a range of evidence-based treatment modalities to help individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Support patients in mental health recovery.
• Attends and participates in supervision with Peer Support Coordinator Weekly.
• Attends and participates in supervision with Housing Manager monthly.
• Support patients at Passage House with activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Provide medication prompts for patients and supervise self-administration of medications.
• Provide clinically necessary services identified in patient treatment service plan.
• Connect patients at Passage House to services and events in the community.
• Documentation completed in EHR and Medication Administration Record in a timely manner.
• Obtain signatures as required.
• Maintain boundaries and mutuality.
• Transport patients as needed.

Required Skills/Abilities

The individual must possess the knowledge, skills and ability noted below or be able to explain and demonstrate how the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorder (SUD)

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Relevant degree in human services or mental health preferred. Certification as a Peer Specialist, Recovery Coach or the ability to obtain such certification within 1 year of employment preferred. Must possess a valid New Hampshire driver’s license and auto insurance in accordance with LRMHC policies and procedures.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to sustain light physical effort such as frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping or reaching and/or occasional lifting of items 20 lbs. or less
• Can tolerate periods of heavy workload or excessive stress.
• Ability to walk long distances in the community, including using stairs, ramps, elevators and escalators as needed with clients.