Peer Support Specialist

Peer Specialist

Peer Specialist has the responsibility of emphasizing the acquisition, development, and expansion of recovery skills to enable individuals to fully engage in their recovery journey. The interventions they provide are based on the therapeutic relationship they build with the individual and their family. As part of the team, helps clients develop essential skills, access recovery tools and community support, and motivates them to achieve and maintain recovery.

Essential Job Functions:

• Collaborate with individuals to develop personalized treatment plans that address their specific needs.
• Maintain regular communication with referral sources and guardians to discuss progress, transition planning, and relevant clinical matters.
• Participate in meetings to ensure continuity of care for individuals.
• Assist in researching and referring individuals to outside resources when necessary.
• Schedule treatment appointments and provide transportation to and from Recovery Support Services and community-based services.
• Accompany clients to appointments when permitted, representing the agency professionally.
• Support clients in accessing medical services and document all services in accordance with state and CARF standards.
• Offer crisis intervention and facilitate group education sessions as scheduled.
• Pursue professional development through training to meet required hours every two years.
• Utilize peer support to foster recovery and resilience in individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
• Help individuals build connections with others, their overall community, and Recovery Supports within their community. NOTE: This requires transportation of clients.
• Assist individuals in accessing information and support for mental health and substance use disorders.
• Support individuals in making independent choices and taking an active role in their treatment.
• Help individuals identify their strengths and resources for recovery.
• Assist individuals in setting and achieving recovery goals through mentoring, advocacy, and coaching.
• Provide emotional, informational, and instructional support to help clients feel connected and develop recovery skills.
• Encourage clients to live a healthy, productive, and sober lifestyle during and after their time in the facility.
• Aid participants in creating personal treatment plans to actively engage in their own recovery.
• Adhere to ethical and confidentiality standards of the facility.
• Show interest in the long-term and short-term goals of the company.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to offer personal, unique knowledge and experiences of recovery while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to share recovery skills that have worked and help the client identify skills that will work for them.
• Ability to serve as a source of hope for the client by demonstrating the ability to maintain recovery.
• Knowledge of and a basic understanding of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles, and techniques in relation to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
• Knowledgeable about the challenges faced by individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders and know how to access the various community resources available.
• Knowledgeable about and should be familiar with the methods, modalities, legal requirements, and court procedures associated with treating mental health and substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of training techniques and practices used in a substance use disorder/mental health treatment setting is desired.
• Capable of effectively communicating ideas verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

• Must be willing to self-identify as a present or former client of mental health and/or substance use services OR self identifies as a person in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorder. If asked, present evidence of a sponsor and participation in a 12-step program.
• Requires one year of direct and personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services.
• Able to complete a state-approved Certified Peer Support training program and other required trainings within six months of employment.
• Exceptions to the qualifications listed may be made by the appropriate Leadership.

Illinois Specific:

The application and the requirements are outlined in "Illinois Model for Mental Health Certified Recovery Support Specialist" at

• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is preferred, but not required.
• Minimum of a High school diploma or equivalent
• Must meet the standards of CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) or CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist).
• 2,000 hours supervised work experience, which can include any combination of paid or volunteer work
• 100 hours supervision in the CRSS performance domains
• 100 hours training and education related to CRSS domains, professional ethics and responsibility, and other core functions
• Successful completion of a written exam for CRSS.

Missouri Specific:

The application and the requirements are outlined in "Missouri Peer Specialist" at

• High School education or equivalent
• Two (2) years of responsible employment history.
• If required, complete a 5-Day Basic Training Program; following which, the individual must pass a State of Missouri approved certification examination within six months.

Kansas Specific:

The application and the requirements are outlined in "Illinois Model for Mental Health Certified Recovery Support Specialist" at

• Hold a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Documentation of completion of BHS approved Level two in-person KCPS training with a score of 80% or greater.
• Be gainfully employed as a Kansas Certified Peer Specialist in Training or Kansas Certified Peer Specialist with prior certification.

Supervisory Requirements:

• None

Employment Requirements:

• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect and fingerprint check.
• Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.
• All training requirements including Relias at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
• Current driver's license, acceptable driving record and current auto insurance.
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Minimum one (1) year of recovery
• Within the first year of employment, receive training on:
  • Signs and symptoms of disability related illnesses
  • Working with families and caretaker of clients receiving services
  • Rights, roles, and responsibilities of client and families
  • Client self-help skills
  • Individual treatment plans
  • Basic principle of assessment
  • Special needs and characteristics
  • Philosophy of community support approach
  • Suicide awareness/precaution
  • Quality assurance
  • Infection control
  • Philosophy, values, and objectives of CPRC
  • Behavioral management/crisis intervention
  • Issues/involuntary hold

Physical Requirements:

ADA Consideration –

• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally (exists up the 1/3 of the time) and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects.
• Requires walking or standing to a significant degree, or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls, or requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.

Position Perks & Benefits:

• Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life
• Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more
• Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive
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